Hearing health and tinnitus management are important healthcare issues for people working across the performing arts. Consequently, understanding both the physical and psychological impacts of hearing loss and tinnitus and how to protect and prevent these conditions are important considerations for any clinician working with performing arts professionals.
Hearing issues and tinnitus are very common throughout the general population. Around 1 in 3 adults in the UK have some degree of hearing loss and 1 in 7 have tinnitus. These figures rise among performing arts professionals. For many people, tinnitus is mild: they are aware of a sound sensation, but this has little impact on their daily lives. However, for some people tinnitus can cause significant distress and has a major impact. The psychophysical properties of tinnitus do not predict the extent to which a person will suffer due to tinnitus. Negative beliefs about tinnitus can lead to sympathetic autonomic nervous system (SANS) (stress) arousal which can maintain awareness of tinnitus, distort perception of tinnitus and reinforce the overly negative beliefs, creating iterative processes. Despite its reputation, serious underlying pathology in association with tinnitus is unusual, improvement and habituation are common and there are many therapeutic options.
This CPD session will explore hearing and tinnitus – prevention, protection and occupational health impacts and how tinnitus and other hearing issues can present. The session will also discuss common co-morbidities and therapeutic approaches for tinnitus including the use of Sound Therapies, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Acceptance Based Therapies.
Dr Laurence McKenna, Clinical Psychologist
Dr McKenna graduated from the University of Liverpool as a clinical psychologist in 1983. He obtained a PhD from the City University on the subject of psychological aspects of tinnitus and hearing loss. He obtained a Post Graduate Diploma (with Distinction) in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy at the University of Oxford.
He has worked at the Royal National Throat Nose & Ear Hospital in the field of psychology as applied to audiology for almost four decades. His work has brought about a greater understanding of psychology into the care of audiology patients. He has a particular interest in the treatment of tinnitus and of insomnia. In recent years he has worked to develop the application of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy in the care of patients with distressing tinnitus.
He holds an honorary academic position at University College London. He undertakes peer review and has served as an editor on a number of journals. He has been a member of the faculty of the European Tinnitus Course, an internationally respected instructional course on tinnitus, for twenty five years and acted as course director for ten years. Dr McKenna was a member of the Professional Advisory Committee of the British Tinnitus Association for many years.
He was awarded the British Tinnitus Association Jack Shapiro Prize for best academic paper on tinnitus from a UK Institution, 2010 and again in 2018. In 2011 he was awarded The British Society of Audiology Thomas Simm Littler prize for an outstanding academic contribution to the discipline of audiology.
He also worked within South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust for twenty-seven years (until 2013) in the fields of neuropsychology and adult mental health at Guy’s.
Don McFerran, President of Tinnitus UK and (retired) ENT Surgeon
Don is an ENT Surgeon with a sub-specialty interest in otology and, in particular, tinnitus.
After 37 years, he retired from clinical practice at the end of 2019 but retains teaching and research commitments. He has published widely on a diverse range of ENT topics and has co-authored two tinnitus books – one textbook for professionals and one self-help book for people with tinnitus and hyperacusis.
He enjoys cookery, woodwork and hill walking, though his current domicile in East Anglia does limit the opportunities for the latter pursuit!
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BAPAM’s expert-led training events are ideal for healthcare and education practitioners working in the performing arts who wish to deepen their understanding and enhance their skills. We explore research, evidence and practice to treat and prevent common and complex health problems specific to artists, creators and performance professionals. We share knowledge and invite discussion on key topics in current performing arts medicine practice. Our approach is multidisciplinary: physiological and psychological care for healthy and sustainable creative practice.
Online sessions are held on the last Wednesday of the month from 7pm BST. Most sessions are recorded for ticket holders who cannot attend on the day (please check the event description).