Giant ear aims to be a contender on the waterfront in Wales

11 March 2011

During this year’s National Science and Engineering Week (14-18 March), the Bionic Ear Show from Deafness Research UK will be putting on several shows in seven days, culminating with two shows at the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea.

Sponsored by BUPA and the BIG Lottery Fund, the Deafness Research UK Bionic Ear Show aims to demonstrate how important and delicate people’s hearing is and to remind them of the risks they face to their hearing from loud music, via a range of entertaining and scientific activities that make it the perfect event for this year’s Science and Engineering Week and the focus on ‘science events for everyone.’
 
Ever wondered what your ear wax can tell you about your genetics? Can your ear shape convict you of a crime? All these questions and more, including how your hearing system links to nuclear power and the Richter scale will be answered as the Deafness Research UK Bionic Ear Show journey’s into the intricacies of hearing for National Science and Engineering Week.
 
The Show ‘s first port of call will be Burgess Hill School and Milton House School in Sussex on the 14th. From here the show will head for Kings College School in Wimbledon and Elmgrove Junior School in Harrow, with the event at the Waterfront Museum taking place on the 17th. At every stage, the charity hopes its key messages can be driven home - about limiting exposure to loud music by turning down the volume on MP3 players.
 
The Deafness Research UK Bionic Ear Show demonstrates what it sounds like to have high frequency hearing loss, plus “Guess that tune” – allowing the audience to appreciate how easy or hard it is for people with cochlear implants (so-called “bionic ears”) to recognise everyday music.
                
As well as the serious underlying message about hearing loss, the show is great fun and features “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 and 116 times the size of a normal human ear! Through this interactive and entertaining demonstration, the audience will learn how the ear works, what can go wrong and what can be done to put things right. Participants can also take a free hearing test, to check out their own hearing and to get advice and support about hearing loss, if needed.

“While the revolution in MP3 and phone technology has given us all the benefit of music on the move, an unwelcome side effect is we are pumping up the volume into our ears and at a far earlier age than ever before,” said Vivienne Michael, Chief Executive of Deafness Research UK. “The fear is that many of us are playing music at such high volume that we risk permanent deafness and tinnitus far earlier than would be expected simply as a result of old age.
 
“One of the messages of the Bionic Ear Show is not to stop people using MP3 players, but to listen to their favourite sounds safely,” continued Vivienne. “Turning the volume down slightly is such a simple thing to do and will enable today’s generation to enjoy their music for many years to come.”

With free hearing tests, together with other interesting and informative demonstrations about how to protect your hearing, the Deafness Research UK Bionic Ear Show will be coming to a town or city near you. Call Laura Ganpot on 020 7679 8951 or email if you would like the show to come to your school, community group or company. More information is available on the website at www.bionicearshow.org

ENDS

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 National Science and Engineering Week
National Science and Engineering Week (NSEW) is a ten day programme of science, engineering and technology events and activities across the UK aimed at people of all ages, which is now in its 18th year! NSEW next takes place between 11–20 March 2011 with the theme of 'communication': talk, text, rhyme and sign about science this March.

National Science & Engineering Week is funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and works in partnership with Engineering UK.

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 Advisory Service provides free information and advice based on the latest scientific evidence and informed by leading experts, Freephone 0808 808 2222 or email
• 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 e-mail 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.
  

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Ref: DR-UK0352 – BES for SEW 2011

www.deafnessresearch.org.uk