ACE Audiology Melbourne

17/05/2025

How Do Hearing Aids Know What to Listen To? Deep Neural Networks Tell Them!

Imagine showing a blurry photo of a cat to someone—and they still know it’s a cat. That’s kind of what modern hearing aids do with sound, thanks to a clever technology called deep neural networks (DNNs).

Just like our brains, these networks learn in layers. The first layer might notice simple shapes, the next sees fur and whiskers, and eventually—voilà!—it recognizes the cat. The more layers, the more detail the system can pick up, even from unclear images.

Now apply that to sound: DNNs can be trained to recognise speech, even in noisy places. Instead of treating all sound equally (like older hearing aids often do), they learn to focus on speech and reduce the background noise around it.

🎧 The result? You hear clearer conversations, not clattering cutlery or traffic noise. It’s AI working quietly behind the scenes to help you reconnect with the world.

ACE Audiology is happy to assist with enquiries regarding DNN in hearing aids and how it may improve your hearing in noisy environments.

15/05/2025

13/05/2025

I stumbled across this photo from the AACTA awards with some of the cast and crew of Yazdaneh's film "Shayda". Cate Blanchett, pictured centre was the Executive Producer. Leah Purcell was also present playing the role of "Joyce" who was the women's shelter manager. Dr Yazdaneh Galt, whose early life if Australia is depicted in the film, is on the far right.

During filming the child star Selina Zahadenia wore Hearing Aids supplied by ACE Audiology to receive communications of her lines and direction via remote microphone transmission.

The writer director Noora Niasari was absent as she was attending the Directors Guild of America Awards where she had been nominated as Best First Filmmaker for Shayda. Shayda is now streaming on SBS and other platforms. Canne Best Actor 2022 Zar Amir Ebrahimi, who played the role of Shayda, was absent overseas on assignment

07/05/2025

Inner and Outer Hair Cells – What Do They Really Do?

It wasn’t until the early 1980s that scientists discovered the crucial role of outer hair cells in the cochlea.

While we’ve long been able to measure cochlear microphonic potentials—the electrical responses to sound—it took time to realise that outer hair cells are mechanical amplifiers. They contain muscle proteins that change length in sync with incoming sound, amplifying soft sounds and damping loud ones, giving us an incredible dynamic range from 0 dB to 110 dB. This is from where the cochlear microphonic potential arises.

But there’s more:
Outer hair cells also help suppress unwanted noise and support selective listening. That’s why early hearing loss often starts with trouble hearing in noisy places, even before a standard hearing test detects it.

At ACE Audiology, we can assess the health of your outer hair cells and help you understand any subtle hearing difficulties you might be experiencing.

🎥 Learn more here: [https://youtu.be/pij8a8aNpWQ](https://youtu.be/pij8a8aNpWQ)

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05/05/2025

🎧 *The Rollercoaster of Meniere’s Syndrome* 🎢

Ever heard of Meniere’s Syndrome? It’s a frustrating and unpredictable condition that affects the inner ear, often leaving people feeling like they’re on a never-ending ride.

Common symptoms include:
🔄 Fluctuating low-frequency hearing loss
🔇 A sense of aural fullness (like your ear is blocked)
🎵 Persistent tinnitus
🌪️Vertigo

These symptoms can occur in different combinations and levels of severity. While there’s currently no cure, there are ways to manage the symptoms—particularly vertigo—with medical support and lifestyle strategies.

🧠 Emerging research suggests it may be related to an autoimmune reaction targeting the inner ear—but much more study is needed.

In the early stages, people often notice fluctuating hearing before vertigo episodes start. These dizzy spells can last for hours—or even up to a full day. Over time, vertigo may settle, but the **hearing loss becomes permanent** and is best managed with hearing aids.

🔍 Awareness and understanding are key—especially for those newly diagnosed.

The image depicts fluctuations in low tone hearing hearing in a hypothetical Meniere's affected ear.

If you suspect you may have Meniere's Syndrome or are impacted and need support, please reach out to ACE Audiology.

Please feel welcome to follow ACE Audiology for our regular posts

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03/05/2025

28/04/2025

A New Era in Hearing Technology is Here!

At ACE Audiology, we’ve seen some incredible breakthroughs over the years — from digital feedback cancellation to open-fit designs — but Deep Neural Networks (DNN) are truly next-level!

DNN technology has been trained on real language, meaning it preserves important speech sounds while softening background noise like never before.
The result? Clearer conversations, more natural sound, and an experience that will truly amaze even the most experienced hearing aid users!

This isn’t just an upgrade — it’s a revolution in how hearing aids manage noise and enhance speech.

If you’re curious about what DNN technology could do for your hearing, ACE Audiology is here to help! With our deep expertise and passion for innovation, we welcome all enquiries. Come experience the future of hearing care with us!

📞 Contact us today — we'd love to chat!

21/04/2025

Did you know your diet could affect your hearing?

While it’s not often talked about, research is showing that good nutrition may help protect your ears—especially as you age.

Here are some of the key nutrients and their hearing benefits:

• Antioxidants (vitamins A, C, E, magnesium) may protect against noise-related hearing damage.
• Vitamin B12 & folate support nerve health and may help with hearing and tinnitus.
• Omega-3s, found in fish and flaxseeds, may reduce the risk of age-related hearing loss.
• Iron & zinc play a role in blood flow and immune support for inner ear health.
• A poor diet (high in sugar and processed food) may increase your risk of hearing decline.
• Diets like the Mediterranean diet have been linked to better long-term hearing outcomes.

Take care of your ears—starting with your plate!

19/04/2025

How AI is revolutionizing my Audiology Practice

Artificial intelligence is quietly transforming the way we deliver hearing care—and ACE Audiology is proud to be at the forefront.

In the latest issue of Audiology Now (Edition 98), our Senior Audiology, Jonathan Galt, shares how AI-powered technology like PatientNotes is changing clinical practice. While the article is written for fellow audiologists, the real winner is you—our patients.

By reducing time spent on note-taking during appointments, this innovation allows your audiologist to focus fully on listening, understanding, and helping. And with clean, accurate summaries and fully compliant data security, it’s care you can trust.

The article first appeared in Audiology Now, the official magazine of Audiology Australia and reprinted with their consent.

Read the full article here:https://www.aceaudiology.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/audaus-anow98-galt.pdf

19/04/2025

A Triumph of the Human Spirit.

Behind every strong clinic is a powerful story.

ACE Audiology’s Principal Audiologist, Dr Yazdaneh Galt, has long been a champion for better hearing—but her journey began in extraordinary circumstances. Her early life experience inspired the award-winning film " Shayda" , and it’s now the focus of a moving feature in Hearing Practitioner News.

Dr Yazdaneh Galt is the real Shayda.

"Shayda" premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival in 2023, winning the prestigious Audience Award and later became Australia's official submission to the Oscars. The lead actor is Zar Amir Ebrahimi, who coincidentally won Best Actor at Cannes in 2022 prior to filling the role of Shayda. Director Noora Niasari won best Director by the Australian Directors Guild and the Directors Guild of America nominated her as Best First Filmmaker. Cate Blanchett was Executive Producer.

We’re honoured to share this glimpse into the resilience and compassion that shaped both her life and our clinic. Shayda is now streaming on several platforms and also on SBS.

Read the full article here:https://www.aceaudiology.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/18-19-SHAYDA.pdf