Bionic Ear Show comes to town (From Swindon Advertiser)
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Bionic Ear Show comes to town
9:30am Thursday 1st November 2012 in News
Bob Phillips, left, and Tobin May at the Bionic Ear show at Swindon Council Services SCS yesterday
THE world’s largest ear made its way into Swindon this week as part of a roadshow providing hearing screenings for workers in the town.
Deafness Research UK brought its award winning Bionic Ear Show to the town on Tuesday and yesterday, and provided screenings to staff at Swindon Commercial Services.
Experts from the national charity delivered fun, interactive performances designed to emphasise the importance of ear protection to staff at the Waterside Park headquarters.
Sponsored by BUPA and the Big Lottery Fund, the Bionic Ear Show tours the country accmpanied by the enormous ear, visiting businesses, schools, colleges and community groups, warning people of the dangers to their hearing from loud noise.
“Free hearing screening is a great way to check if your hearing is as it should be,” said Vivienne Michael, chief executive of Deafness Research UK.
“Whether you have experienced exposure to loud sounds at work or play, we hope the opportunity to get a hearing health check-up will support health and safety in the workplace and encourage anyone concerned to come forward.
“Thanks to increased noise in everyday life, many of us don’t realise the potential damage we are doing to our hearing until it is too late. Early detection is the best defence against potential hearing loss, as the earlier a problem is identified, the better the chances of successful treatment.”
During their visit to Swindon Commercial Services, representatives carried out hearing screenings for staff, which take no longer than 15 minutes, with up to six people screened at a time.
The Bionic Ear Show is presented by former teacher Tobin May, who employs a variety of techniques and activities to get the hearing message across. It includes a 22ft long display explaining how the ear works, plus group activities like ‘guess that tune’, so the audience appreciates how easy or difficult it is for people with cochlear implants, so-called ‘bionic ears’, to hear everyday sounds and music.
Anyone who would like hearing screenings or the Bionic Ear Show to visit their organisation, community group or event free of charge should contact Laura Turner at Deafness Research UK on 020 7164 2294 or email Laura at Laura.turner@deafnessresearch.org.uk. Further information can be found on the website at www.bionicearshow.org.
