Three months ago, we launched our free Audiology Taster Course on UCLeXtend featuring modules such as an Introduction to Hair Cells, Living with Hearing Loss and more.

Each module consists of a series of fun, short videos made by TV producer Nathan Williams accompanied by extra information, resources and quizzes put together by the Ear Institute teaching staff.

More than 150 people have now registered on the course, mostly from the UK but some from as far afield as Thailand, Kuwait and the Phillipines!

Many registrants have posted on our message board, and feedback has been really positive. Some have engaged with the course out of professional interest while others have told us the course has helped them understand their own deafness or that of their children.

The most viewed topic so far has been ‘The Amazing Hearing System’, presented by Torsten and featuring slinky springs being dropped into the atrium from above. Each section of the course has a comments board, which anyone can contribute to. You can add links to interesting stories connected to hearing or deafness.

Sign up to the course and become part of our growing global community of learners!

Links

• UCLeXtend Audiology Taster Course

I am finally back in England after the most amazing and inspiring trip I have ever had. Nepal is beyond anything I could have imagined. During my preparations, I read as much as I could but my expectations were truly exceeded. I think it was quoted in Lonely Planet that while most people will go to Nepal the first time for the mountains, they will go back for its people. Judging by all the people I met, this is very true! Warm, friendly, helpful and caring. While Nepal is one of the poorest countries, we have so much to learn from its people and lifestyle, and so much to be truly grateful for.

The team at the Green Pastures Complex are a small group who are truly inspirational. Their love for what they are all doing is evident in the running of the hospital and the satisfaction of the patients. Despite fuel and electricity shortages and the far-reaching consequences of the Earthquake last April, they are all still managing to deliver a first-class service in Ear and Hearing care. The hospital is built on INF land and has an attached farm and spinal injuries rehab unit as well as the historical Leprosy Hospital. It is a remarkable place providing much needed care to the people of Pokhara and beyond!

The Audiology team comprises Sandra, Pratiksha and Sujit. They assess and manage both children and adults, fitting hearing aids and are committed to constantly developing the service they offer. It was such a privilege spending time with them and sharing our knowledge and experiences with each other!
My bag of goodies (thanks to you all! And GN Otometrics, Sivantos, Phonak and Oticon!) arrived a day after I did…But what a delight! Pratiksha and Sandra claimed it was better than Christmas!

The time went by so fast and I am looking forward to continuing the relationship we have started via technology and future visits! I want to thank everyone on both my behalf and those I met at the Hospital in Pokhara for your support, generosity and encouragement. It was a successful trip only made possible by you all and I thank you with all my heart.

Ear Aid Nepal

Hello All

This is my first post on this blog of my trip to Nepal, and what better reason to kick it off than the fact that today is World Hearing Day! The theme this year is “Childhood hearing loss: act now, here is how!” 

Many of the causes of hearing loss in children can be prevented if there are adequate public health measures in place. Further, early diagnosis and intervention is vital for these children! So if you have a few minutes to spare today, use Google to find out something new about hearing loss in children that you didn’t know before!

And watch this space for daily reports from my trip to Nepal starting next week!

Recently, teams at the EI have been working on an Audiology taster course as the final part of UCL’s Graduate Support Scheme Project. The taster course is designed to showcase the vast range of research that goes on here as well as provide a first step for anyone considering studying Audiology at any level. Best of all it’s completely free and will be entirely online, so anyone who signs up can access it from anywhere in the world!

We’ve produced several unique videos for the course that aim to break down the science in an engaging way. It’s also provided an opportunity to work with and learn from BBC/Discovery channel director Nathan Williams. We’ve had great fun observing the noise levels of central London (VERY loud), finding out what fruit flies can tell us about our own hearing, and reproducing the effects of impedance barriers using nothing but a few coiled springs (and good use of the EI Atrium).

The taster course will contain quizzes and interactive sections and anyone will be able to sign up. We’re really excited to be able to bring this to you, so stay tuned for further announcements.