There are two major parts to the ethos of my clinical practice as an audiologist. They are

1. Clinical excellence

2. Modern audiology techniques
   

A lot of what we do in audiology is actually based on really old methodology. For example, hearing tests, or what we know in the field as pure tone audiometry, has been used as a measure to test hearing since 1919. Hence why, in my consultations we use a range of different tests to assess your whole hearing system, from pure tone audiometry to speech testing. The protocol in these assessments have been developed from techniques I learnt not only in the UK but also from my time in Australia and America.

It's my belief that our hearing systems and the way we like to hear is extremely individual. Hence the way we manage and treat your hearing loss should be equally personalised. One of the ways I like to do this is by using c shells and slim tips on hearing aids. These are essentially likened to custom made domes or small moulds on the end of your hearing aid. These have many benefits including increased comfort, reduced whistling and overall better sound from your hearing aids.

Typically, the way we would take the shape of your ear for any custom device is by taking an aural impression. An audiologist would place a sponge dam in your ear canal and inject a silicone putty material to fill the rest of your ear. This takes a few minutes to set, and it would be posted to the manufacturer for 3D scanning. The 3D scan is then used to print your device. Impression taking can be a tricky technique if you don’t do it very often, and the success of your hearing aids would be heavily dependent on if your audiologist managed to get an accurate mould of your ear canal with the silicone. Although impression taking is a generally safe procedure there are known complications such as inflammatory reactions, bruising or even eardrum perforation. For patients with tinnitus or anxiety it’s also a generally uncomfortable procedure.

For these reasons, plus more, this is why we have decided to invest in an Otoscan. This is a mould-less impression taking device that completely bypasses the need to inject silicone into your ears. The Otoscan uses laser technology to take over one million data points of your ear to create the most accurate 3D image of your ear possible. By taking this approach to taking impressions, we are aiming to deliver better fitting devices, in a shorter time, in a non-invasive and more environmentally friendly way. This is an investment for sure into our clinic but one that I think will really make a difference to your overall experience with us.