Andrew Hugill On Aural Diversity And Why Hearing Aids Should Improve For Musicians

Music professor Andrew Hugill who struggles with several hearing loss diseases, discusses his drive behind the Aural Diversity initiative and how hearing technology can be more catered for musicians.

Professor of Creative Computing at the University of Leicester Andrew Hugill, who was diagnosed with Ménière’s disease, a rare disorder that affects the inner ear, set up the Aural Diversity project in 2009 to celebrate how everyone listens to and compose music uniquely.

He persevered through the use of multiple treatments and hearing aids until he was fitted with the ReSound LiNX Quattro, which made the life-changing difference that enabled him to continue his career.

GN Hearing is the Danish manufacturer behind the hearing aid, which uses advanced technology to improve sound that is described as delivering “the best sound quality and speech intelligibility available on the market” by the firm.

The 62-year-old identified a common struggle among musicians with hearing aids, which is the neglect in quality of sound in favour of amplification, something he feels shows little awareness to importance of music.

“I have climbed the ‘ladder’ of Ménière’s treatments, including drugs such as betahistine and diuretics, a low salt diet and grommets,” he told NS Medical Devices.

“The biggest treatment was a series of gentamicin injections which destroyed my balance function on the right side, but stopped the worst of the vertigo.

“I began wearing hearing aids in about 2010, starting with Siemens Tek, then working through NHS aids and eventually GNResound aids.

“My current aids are the GN ReSound LiNX Quattro, which are a noticeable improvement on anything I’ve tried before.”

Why musicians are almost four times more likely to develop noise-induced hearing loss

Professional musicians are almost four times more likely to develop noise-induced hearing loss than the general public, and 57% more likely to have tinnitus – a ringing or buzzing in the ears – one study published online in Occupational & Environmental Medicine suggests.

Noise-induced hearing loss can be caused by very loud sudden noises, but it may also develop gradually, as a result of repeated exposure to loud noise, claim the study’s authors.

Prof Hugill says: “Musicians often find themselves in situations where other instruments make loud or intense sounds nearby.

“Also, certain instruments such as a piccolo or violin can cause damage due to their proximity to the ear, or through bone conduction.

“Music is a noisy business, especially with modern amplification techniques, and this has consequences for musicians.

“But also, remember that people listening to loud music for long periods using in-ear headphones or in-car entertainment systems are equally at risk.

“We are creating an epidemic of tinnitus and hearing loss.” – NS Medical Devices