News - SoundWave Audiology

New images aim to tackle the “Invisible” reality of hearing loss in media

Hearing loss affects millions of people worldwide, yet it remains largely underrepresented in everyday media. A new initiative is aiming to change that by making hearing loss more visible and relatable. GN, a global leader in hearing technology, has released an expanded collection of authentic images featuring real people living with hearing loss. These images…

Hearing Aid Rx Not Linked to Better Cognition, But Lower Dementia Risk

Hearing aid prescriptions show no clear cognitive boost — but linked to lower dementia risk

Hearing loss has long been associated with cognitive decline, but new research is shedding more light on how hearing aids may influence long-term brain health. A large study of older adults found that while being prescribed hearing aids did not lead to measurable improvements in memory and thinking tests over time, there was a significant…

Tinnitus and hearing loss are far more common in musicians than non-musicians

Musicians are regularly exposed to high sound levels, whether during live performances, studio sessions, or rehearsals. Over time, this repeated exposure can significantly increase the risk of both tinnitus and long-term hearing loss. Recent insights highlight just how much more common these conditions are among musicians compared to non-musicians. This raises important awareness around hearing…

We are moving

SoundWave Audiology is on the move. As of Monday 16 October 2023 or new physical address will be at 130C Rostrevor Street in Hamilton Central. Our contact number will remain the same, 07 444 4014.

Changes are coming to New Zealand’s Relay Services

Earlier this year, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) announced that Concentrix had been selected to deliver New Zealand’s Telecommunications Relay Services. When Concentrix begins delivering these services from 1 February 2021, there will be changes to the way you access and use these services. Read the full story here on the NZ Relay website.

AI breakthrough brings objective tinnitus diagnosis within reach

An algorithm developed by researchers at the Bionics Institute in Melbourne, Australia may pave the way to providing a tool for clinicians to detect and objectively measure a patient’s tinnitus. Read the full story here on the Audiology Worldnews website.

MED-EL gets right under the skin with TICI implant

Market approval may still be several years away for a totally implantable cochlear implant (CI), but the Austrian hearing tech firm MED-EL is currently performing its first surgeries in this direction with the project at the clinical feasibility study stage. Read the full story here on the Audiology Worldnews website.

We are re-opening on 14 May

We are re-opening! From this Thursday, 14th of May, we will be open once again at our Hamilton East clinic. But we must stress, this will be strictly appointment-only. No walk-ins. All appointments will be subject to health screening. We need to ensure the safety of both our patients and our staff so all precautions…

Covid-19 amplifies struggles of deaf and hard of hearing

A Nelson woman who is hard of hearing says it is now more difficult to access essential services. Anna said people who wore face masks at supermarkets and pharmacies meant she could no longer lip-read, and voices were muffled. The National Foundation for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing said the community struggled with isolation…

Temporary closure due to Covid-19

To all our valued customers and patients. As we cannot apply physical distance principles while you are in the clinic with us, we cannot keep you safe and we cannot keep ourselves safe. Therefore, as of Monday 23rd March 2020, SoundWave Audiology will be closed to the public until further notice.

Six tips for flying with hearing aids

Flying on planes is something almost everyone has to do, especially if you have family and friends in other parts of the world. Whether you're taking a vacation or flying for business, it's important to know how your hearing aids factor into your experience. Flying on planes is something almost everyone has to do, especially…

Hearing loss linked to delinquency in pre-teen Pacific kids

An ethnically-based study by New Zealand researchers has related hearing impairment with moderate delinquency, underlining the serious social and economic impact of hearing disability on individuals and families. The study looked at nearly one thousand Pacific 11-year-olds living in New Zealand, testing their hearing in a school setting, and having them complete multidisciplinary questionnaires which…

The sex is in the spirals – the cochlea tells the difference in forensics breakthrough

The human cochlea is sex-typed from an early post-natal age - this is the startling and welcome finding of a study that has delivered the first reliable method for sex determination, even in child skeletons and cases with missing or degraded DNA molecules. Until now, it has been impossible to determine the sex of a…

New regional ENT plan for the Pacific

Australian and New Zealand ENT and Audiology experts have been meeting this spring with their counterparts from 6 Pacific Islands to help develop a plan to tackle an alarming regional shortage in hearing health equipment and workforce. March and April meetings in Nadi, Fiji, were convened by PENTAG, the 3rd Pacific Ear, Nose, Throat and Audiology…

Google empowers hearing loss sufferers through new Android features

Google has launched two new features for Android phones destined to make life easier for hearing-impaired users. The Google Play Store is now offering Android phone users two innovative software functions: Sound Amplifier, which filters and enhances sounds, increasing quiet sounds without raising louder sounds; and a Beta version of Live Transcribe, which picks up speech through…