‘World’s Largest Ear’ Squeezes into Clapham Care Centre

5 March 2010

22ft Bionic Ear reveals poor hearing in old age is not a given

National charity Deafness Research UK is once again on tour in 2010 with its innovative Bionic Ear Roadshow. Sponsored by BUPA, the show aims to teach people across the country about how important and delicate their hearing is and remind everyone of the risks they face to their hearing from loud music, plus other important educational messages about hearing.

The Bionic Ear Show will squeeze its next presentation in at The Laurels Care Centre in Clapham on Friday 19 March at 2pm, where Deafness Research UK hopes it can drive home one of its key messages – that it is never too late to take care of your hearing.

Our hearing is as precious as our sight: a fact that people only tend to recognise when they are faced with loosing it. The Bionic Ear Show has been designed to raise awareness of the dangers that many of us are unwittingly exposing our hearing to. There will be demonstrations of what it sounds like to have high frequency hearing loss, plus “Guess that tune” – allowing the residents to appreciate how easy or hard it is for people with cochlear implants (so-called “bionic ears”) to recognise everyday music.

Located within a quiet residential road in the heart of Clapham, South West London, The Laurels Care Centre has been purpose built to care for the elderly and having a group of people in one place who are at risk from hearing loss makes a care home a fitting location for the Bionic Ear Show to drop in on! The Show is designed to be interactive, with the message aimed at old and young alike, so it is very easy to understand and no specialist scientific knowledge is required to enjoy the spectacle.

As well as the serious underlying message about hearing loss, the show is great fun and features among other things “the world’s largest ear!” During the show, the presenter constructs a model to highlight the different parts of the ear, which is over 22ft long and 116 times the size of a normal human ear! Through this interactive and entertaining demonstration, the residents at The Laurels will learn how the ear works, what can go wrong and what can be done to put things right.

“It is never too late to get the message about taking care of your hearing,” said Vivienne Michael, Chief Executive of Deafness Research UK. “While deafness and tinnitus often come about as a result of old age, it is common for the elderly to have factors other than just their age contributing to hearing loss and the Bionic Ear Show is the perfect medium to get this point across.”

“The more people are aware of in relation to their hearing, the better the treatments they can expect” continued Vivienne. “By raising awareness of the issues, we are hopefully delivering the prospect of improved and healthy hearing for all.”

The Bionic Ear Show appeals to all ages and delivers interesting and informative demonstrations about how the ear works, and how to protect your hearing.  With the support of BUPA, the 2010 Bionic Ear Show will be coming to a town or city near you so please contact Laura Ganpot at Deafness Research UK if you would like the Show to come to your school, community group or event for free. Laura can be contacted on 020 7679 8951 or email Laura at schedule is subject to change, but an up to date version and further information can be found on the website at: www.bionicearshow.org.

Notes to editors

About the Bionic Ear Show

The Bionic Ear Show continues the campaign first launched in 2006 to highlight that hearing is as important as sight and to encourage people to protect their ears against potential damage. In launching the campaign, Deafness Research UK is stressing that young people today are at far greater risk of going prematurely deaf than their parents because they are listening to mobile phones and MP3 players at far too loud a volume and far too often.

A national survey found that over a third of all 16-34 year olds listened to their MP3 players for more than an hour a day and 14% listened for more than 28 hours a week. It also showed that 54% of people did not realise that listening to loud music on an MP3 player, in a nightclub or at a concert could damage their hearing.

More than a third of people who have experienced ringing in their ears after listening to loud music listen to their MP3 player every day. Ringing in the ears, or tinnitus, is a sign of damage to the hearing system.

About Deafness Research UK

• Deafness Research UK is the country's only charity dedicated to finding new cures, treatments and technologies for deaf, hard of hearing and other hearing impaired people.
• The charity supports high quality medical research into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of all forms of hearing impairment including tinnitus.
• Deafness Research UK is entirely dependent on voluntary donations, gifts and personal legacies. You can donate online at www.deafnessresearch.org.uk , or call 0207 7833 1733 for further information on how to support the charity.  
• The Deafness Research UK Information Service provides free information and advice based on the latest scientific evidence and informed by leading experts. The Information Service can be contacted on Freephone 0808 808 2222.      
• For more information on research into deafness, tinnitus and other hearing conditions, log on to the website at www.deafnessresearch.org.uk where you can access a wide range of information. Alternatively you can email Deafness Research UK at
• One in seven people in the UK – almost nine million people - suffer hearing loss.
• Deafness Research UK was founded in 1985 by Lord (Jack) and Lady Ashley of Stoke.
• In January 2008, Action for Tinnitus Research (ATR) was linked with Deafness Research UK under a uniting direction order under section 96(6) of the Charities Act 1993

Press enquiries

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Ref: DR-UK0214 – Bionic Ear Show Laurels Care Centre, Clapham