What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm

http://www.midlandhearingcare.com/

Midland Hearing Care, 1 Church Street, An Longfort (2025)

22/08/2025

Phonak infinio hearing aid technology

Infuse every hearing moment with exceptional sound quality and comfort from the first use with Audéo Infinio hearing aids. Featuring technology that transcends the limits of hearing care like never before, Phonak Infinio helps you hear the world with ease and confidence to embrace life’s meaningful moments.

The current situation most hearing aid wearers face
Difficulty communicating in background noise and hearing over distance is one of the most common complaints of individuals with hearing loss. There are a number of factors that affect speech, including background noise level, distance from the speaker, acoustics of the environment and reverberation of music and other competing sounds.
Research indicates that despite significant improvements in digital hearing aid technology, most hearing aid technologies can only deliver approximately 2 metres of sound amplification to the wearer, in most communication situations. In background noise, hearing aids provide less than 1 metre amplification to the hearing aid wearer. Is it any wonder then why so many hearing aid wearers struggle to hear speech in background noise?
What can be done?
When hearing aid technology is simply not enough, an assistive listening device
Phonak Roger On™ 3 FM Soundfield technology system delivers exceptional speech clarity in all challenging listening environments. Whether you’re in a crowded restaurant, participating in a business meeting, or enjoying a social gathering with family or friends, this assistive listening technology focuses on conversations that matter over distance and in background noise.

The versatility of Roger
From classrooms to the office, to spending time with friends, you can feel more comfortable in any listening situation with the help of Roger technology.

For work
The work environment places significant demands on individuals when it comes to engaging in conversations. Roger provides hearing solutions to enhance communication skills in the workplace and during meetings.

For higher education
Being a student is an important period of life. While it can be exciting and fun, it can also be challenging for students with hearing loss. Hearing conversations in the classroom as well as outside is key to succeeding in all aspects of a student's life.

For social activities
Everyone should have the opportunity to cultivate meaningful connections with others. Whether you are in a restaurant, in a public setting, or simply relaxing at home, engaging in conversations without the distraction of background noise is a vital aspect of life.

The new Infinio hearing aid technology and Phonak Roger On™ 3 FM Soundfield technology system is available to order from Midland Hearing Care. For new or existing hearing aid wearers who experience significant difficulty hearing speech in group settings - we now have an offering to take your hearing experience to the next level, please contact us to schedule a technology trial.

Email us: info@midlandhearingcare.com Landline: 043 336 8029
Clinic hours: By appointment only. Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm. Please note: our clinic is closed for lunch 1pm-2pm daily.

18/08/2025

We are please to share positive feedback and patient testimonials.

This is what some of our patients are saying:

14 August 2025

5-Star service

‘Midland Hearing Care is a clinic of exceptional care with a wonderful atmosphere of welcome and friendliness. I can certainly say that from the very first moment, I was assured of and received all the attention I needed for my hearing problem. Over the past four years, I have experienced first-hand, the gentle approach with strong support and encourgement. Within a short space of time, my hearing problem was dealt with. The ongoing examinations and detailed explanations were most helpful and reassuring. I felt normal again because I could hear again! The team has a relaxed professional approach - no rush, no anxiety with plenty of personal time provided. No phone call was left unanswered, no problem overlooked. I feel so blessed and enabled. Thank you Midland Hearing Care.’ - Sr Mairead O’Keefe - hearing assessment and hearing aid rehabilition

27 July 2025

5-star service

‘Great and friendly service, I purchased custom Horluchs filtered swim plugs and have been using them for water sports for a few months now and find them excellent. They haven’t moved or let in any water and I can still have conversations while wearing. Highly recommended.’ - Fergal Shanley - Custom Filtered Swimplugs

22 July 2025

5-star service

‘I had a great experience recently for wax removal at Midland Hearing Care. Everything was explained to me at every step. A truly professional and kind experience, totally unlike my many other medical events. It is very refreshing to feel so good after a medical procedure.’ - Seamus Butler - microsuction wax removal

16 July 2025

5-star service

‘Excellent, professional and thorough service - look forward to my next appointment and continued treatment.’ - Sean Godley - Hearing & Tinnitus Assessment

1 July 2025

5-star service

‘So happy with the good service I got at Midland Hearing, Jenevieve and her staff are a very dedicated team. My life has changed for the better since I got my hearing aids.’ - Sean Brady - Hearing Aid Patient

If looking to schedule an appointment at Midland Hearing Care please contact 043 336 8029 or email info@midlandhearingcare.com

13/08/2025

Patient announcement - Please be advised that Midland Hearing Care has resumed full clinical services from the 5th August 2025.

We have appointments available for -

Pediatric hearing assessments
Adult hearing assessments
Tinnitus assessments
Hearing aid consultations
Wax removal for children (irrigation) and adults (microsuction)
custom ear protection for gun sport, music, motor sport, swimming and sleep plugs

If looking for an appointment please contact our team on 043 336 8029 or email info@midlandhearingcare.com to schedule an appointment.

We look forward to assisting you.

26/07/2025

Dear patients: please be advised due to exceptional circumstances, Midland Hearing Care will be closed for 1 week.

Temporary Closure of Clinic
Monday 28 July 2025 – Friday 1 August 2025

Reopening Tuesday 5th August at 9am. All emails and voice messages will be responded to then.

Practice Manager – extended sick leave
Clinical Audiologist Jenevieve Butler – Annual Leave

If you wish to make an appointment or have a query, please contact the Clinic by phone or email.

Phone: 043 336 8029 – please leave a brief voice message

Or

email: info@midlandhearingcare.com

For information on Clinical services please visit our website: www.midlandhearingcare.com

Thank you for your continued support.

22/07/2025

Midland Hearing care specialises in providing a bespoke range of Horluchs custom -moulded ear protection solutions.

Protect your ears from swimmer's ear (ear infections) while participating in your favourite water sports.

What is swimmers ear?
Symptoms may appear a few days after water activities. While the symptoms may range from mild to severe and the most common symptoms experienced include:
• Itching in the ear.
• Redness of the outer ear.
• Discharge (fluid) from the ear.
• Blocked feeling or a feeling of pressure in the ear.
• Discomfort that may be worse by pulling on the ear.
• Swelling in the ear.
• Hearing may be muffled.

Our clinic has provided Longford Irish Olympic swimmer Darragh Greene with a set of solid custom moulded swimplugs and filtered custom swimplugs to protect his ears while training in the pool and when competing.

Visit our e-store for all your audiology needs - https://www.midlandhearingcare.com/store
• Silicon swim plugs for children and adults
• Swimming headbands – Children
• Earol Swim with tea tree oil
• Custom hearing protection – consultation required for ear impressions (ear casts).

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact our clinic on 043 336 8029 or email info@midlandhearingcare.com.

21/07/2025

Patient Announcement:

Dear patients please be advised that Midland Hearing Care will be closed to patients on Thursday 24th July 2025 - Audiologist Jenevieve Butler will be attending a medical appointment in Dublin. With our practice manager on extended sick leave - we have no staff to open the clinic on Thursday to patients or couriers.

The clinic will re-open on Friday 25 July 2025 from 9am.

Thank you for your continued support!

11/07/2025

Midland Hearing Care provides a bespoke custom ear protection service for all patient requirements. Our Clinic is a provider of high quality Variphone and Horluchs Custom Ear Protection.

I recently attended the Marquee in Cork to see American guitarist Joe Bonamassa performing a tribute to Rory Gallagher. In this short video - I am wearing a set of Horluchs music ear protection plugs. I enjoyed listening to world-class musicians performing live - in comfort, without any tinnitus.

For music enthusiasts we offer a range of custom ear protection solutions allowing you to enjoy your favourite live music performance or festival at a comfortable level, without compromising on the sound quality, the treble or timbre of music.
This service may be suitable for musician’s looking for custom in ear monitors (IEM’s) to protect their hearing, while experiencing outstanding sound quality while performing in studio or live on stage.

The rest of our extensive custom hearing protection solutions include: gun sport (passive & electronic filtered plugs), industrial noise, motor sport, skydiving, moulded swimming plugs or for those who require a set of soft sleep plugs, to reduce noise for a good night’s rest.

For more information, please contact us on 043 336 8029 or email info@midlandhearingcare.com

Enjoy sounds comfortably and responsibly this Summer – protect your ears with bespoke ear protection to suit your needs, prevent hearing loss and enjoy recreational noise and work-place noise responsibly.

10/07/2025

Breakthrough gene therapy jab reverses hearing loss in weeks
Researcher says this type of treatment for deafness is ‘just the beginning’

Vishwam Sankaran-Tuesday 08 July 2025 www.indepedentnews.co.uk
A single jab of a breakthrough gene therapy could reverse hearing loss in people within weeks, according to new research.

The cutting-edge therapy improved hearing in children and adults with congenital deafness or severe hearing impairment, with a 7-year-old regaining almost full hearing in a clinical trial, researchers from Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet said.

The clinical trial, detailed in the journal Nature Medicine, showed that a healthy copy of the OTOF gene injected in the inner ear improved hearing of all 10 participants.
The small-scale trial included people who had a genetic form of deafness or severe hearing impairment caused by mutations in a gene called OTOF.

These mutations cause a deficiency of the protein otoferlin, which plays a key role in transmitting sound signals from the ear to the brain.

in the trial, a synthetic, harmless version of the adeno-associated virus was used to deliver a properly functional OTOF gene to the inner ear via a single injection.
The effects of the therapy were evident in the majority of patients, whose hearing recovered rapidly after just a month.

After six months, researchers noted considerable hearing improvement in all participants, with their average volume of perceptible sound improving from 106 decibels to 52 decibels.
Children between the ages of five and eight responded best to the treatment, the study found.
One seven-year-old girl quickly recovered almost all her hearing, and she was able to hold daily conversations with her mother four months afterwards.

“This is the first time that the method has been tested in teenagers and adults,” Maoli Duan, an author of the study from Karolinska Institutet, said.
"Hearing was greatly improved in many of the participants, which can have a profound effect on their life quality. We will now be following these patients to see how lasting the effect is.”
Researchers also found that the treatment was safe and well-tolerated. Participants did not report any serious adverse reactions in the follow-up period of 6-12 months.

The most common reaction was a reduction in the number of the immune system’s neutrophils, a type of white blood cell.
"OTOF is just the beginning," Dr Duan said, adding that researchers were working on other common genes behind deafness such as GJB2 and TMC1.

“These are more complicated to treat, but animal studies have so far returned promising results. We are confident that patients with different kinds of genetic deafness will one day be able to receive treatment.”

03/07/2025

Could your ear wax tell you if you have Parkinson’s disease?

New research regarding early identification of Parkinson's disease was disclosed in a recent article 'Early signs of Parkinson’s disease could be found in ear wax' was published by Julia Musto, Independent New York - Thursday 19 June 2025

Some 90,000 people are diagnosed with the degenerative neurological condition in the U.S. each year, and annual deaths have surged in recent decades to tens of thousands.

Now, researchers at the American Chemical Society claim they have developed a new system that could help catch the disease at an early stage.

The identifier is in the odour of ear wax’s main ingredient, known as sebum. The oily substance is produced by the body to lubricate and protect the skin. Sebum from people with Parkinson’s may have a characteristic and musky smell because the volatile organic compounds released by sebum are altered by disease progression. This association has been identified in previous research.

To identify the compounds released by sebum in people with the disease, the researchers swabbed the ear canals of 209 participants, more than half of which were diagnosed with the condition. Then, they analyzed what was collected using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry techniques.

Four of the volatile organic compounds they found in people with Parkinson’s were different than people without it. Those include ethylbenzene, 4-ethyltoluene, pentanal, and 2-pentadecyl-1,3-dioxolane. The researchers said they are potential biomarkers for Parkinson’s.

Using these findings, published last week in the journal Analytical Chemistry, they were able to develop a system that inexpensively screens for Parkinson’s.

They trained an artificial intelligence olfactory system - a robotic model that can mimic how we smell - with their ear wax compound data. Using the model, they found it was able to categorize samples with and without Parkinson’s with 94 percent accuracy.

Some 1.1 million Americans are living with Parkinson’s right now. Because most treatments for Parkinson’s only slow the progression of disease, catching it early is critical. Current testing is also costly, and can be subjective. This AI system, the researchers say, could be used as a first-line screening tool for early detection.

“This method is a small-scale single-centre experiment in China,” explained author Hao D**g. “The next step is to conduct further research at different stages of the disease, in multiple research centers and among multiple ethnic groups, in order to determine whether this method has greater practical application value.”

01/07/2025

Adopting AI in Audiology - Are audiologists ready?

In a recent article by By Melanie Hamilton-Basich of The Hearing Review: 'Adopting AI in Audiology: Are Hearing Care Professionals (HCPs) Ready?' AI is improving hearing aid performance and patient engagement, particularly with regard to speech in noise and auditory training apps, leading to better user outcomes.

Audiologists see potential in AI-assisted testing and office management, but insist on clinician oversight to ensure accuracy and personalized care.

Hearing care professionals are united in the belief that AI should enhance, not replace, their roles, emphasizing that human connection and clinical judgment are irreplaceable in effective patient care.

Currently, most of the uses of AI in audiology are for ''machine learning''. For example, audiometers can employ machine learning algorithms to automate traditional audiometric tests to improve precision and efficiency.

Many new hearing aids feature highly advanced chips that utilize machine learning to distinguish between different types of sound and make adjustments to focus on only the sounds it’s predicted the user wants to hear in different situations.

“I think AI could be beneficial to help with screening out normal hearing or standard age-related hearing loss,” says Jessica Stiel, AuD, CCC-A, who works at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Centre. “And then as the clinician, I would be able to identify the red flags where a referral might be needed, if there was an asymmetric loss or a conductive loss, so it could help diagnose in that regard. Then I would have more clinical time and judgment to spend on the more complex cases.”

Concern about overreliance on AI to the detriment of hearing care professionals and patients is not unfounded.

These days, most people are of two minds when it comes to artificial intelligence (AI). “I think overall everyone’s pretty excited just about the possibility of AI improving things for our patients,” says Hunter Gerhart, AuD, director of audiology at Livingston Hearing Aid Center in Austin, TX.

In Facebook groups for people with hearing loss, Gerhart regularly sees posts from people asking HCPs to interpret their test results. “While there are a lot of great qualified professionals in these forums who will often chime in and help these users understand their results, as AI technology improves and becomes more readily available, I fear that consumers may turn to those sources before they turn to a professional,” he says. “I wouldn’t want them to replace the expertise of a hearing healthcare professional with AI.”

“I think that it’s key to use AI as a tool, not a replacement,” Stiel emphasizes. “Hearing care is deeply personal, and no algorithm can replace clinical judgment or human understanding of audiological context.”

Gerhart also strongly believes that personal interaction in healthcare will always trump artificial intelligence. “I think that there is a fundamental component of quality hearing healthcare, and I think that’s the human touch, being able to have a one-on-one interaction with a hearing care professional where we can guide patients through how to overcome the challenges that they’re experiencing, which I don’t think AI can deliver.”

While hearing care professionals are cautiously optimistic about the potential of AI to improve patient outcomes and streamline practice management operations, they stress that it must remain a supportive tool—not a replacement for human expertise and personal care in audiology.

27/06/2025

What is Hyperacusis?

“Everything is too loud”
“It is affecting my relationships and hobbies”
“I’m isolating myself more and more”

These are common statements made by individuals with hyperacusis who visit an audiology clinic.

Hyperacusis is when everyday sounds are perceived as intrusively loud, uncomfortable, and even painful. This heightened sensitivity to sound can lead to social withdrawal, isolation and increased anxiety, making the condition worse over time. Some individuals may develop hyperacusis following a challenging life experience, such as bereavement, while in many cases, the cause remains unclear. Hyperacusis can also co-occur with tinnitus, making a combined assessment important for diagnosis and management.

Hyperacusis the Catch-22 dilemma
Hyperacusis is an intolerance to the loudness of everyday sounds that aren’t bothersome to the general population. Literally, “hyper-” means excessive and “-acusis” means sound perception.

This inability to tolerate loud sounds can result in a decreased dynamic range of hearing, avoidance of noisy environments, and overreliance on hearing protection. These strategies can result in avoidance behaviours to opt out of certain settings, severely limiting social interaction with others and may have a negative impact on quality of life.

Assessment Process

The initial session for tinnitus assessment includes a detailed case history, outer ear and middle ear examination, with a comprehensive hearing test with tinnitus evaluation. This thorough hearing test and tinnitus assessment may take up to 90 minutes. During the session, questionnaires like the Hyperacusis Questionnaire , Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) are utilized to grade the severity of tinnitus and its impact on the patient’s life. At the conclusion of the assessment, patients receive informative handouts and guidance to help manage their condition.

What current literature supports:
Counseling about the condition and appropriate use of hearing protection, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with a psychologist familiar with sound sensitivity or chronic pain is advised.

Sound therapy to provide exposure to healthy low-level sound to gradually resetting abnormally high auditory gain through the brain’s natural adaptive process.

Gradual reduction in wear time of ear protection, to aid sound tolerance.

Our clinic is dedicated to providing a detailed hearing test and tinnitus assessment, ensuring that each patient receives personalized care to address their unique needs.
To schedule an appointment please email info@midlandhearingcare.com

Acknowledgment:
Hyperacusis treatment: Insights from a 6-month field trial. A group of audiologists, engineers and hearing scientists developed a novel treatment device and protocol that significantly improved participants’ sound sensitivity and quality of life.

Practice

26/06/2025

What if hearing instruments weren’t something to hide, but something to celebrate? Deafmetal is on a mission to prove just that, and now the company’s creative designs are about to go on display at the V&A Museum in London.

For many people, hearing instruments are a lifeline—but they can also be a reminder of the stigma that exists in society. Devices designed to help us connect are too often hidden away, designed for function rather than style.

‘’Deafmetal’’ is changing that narrative. Founded by Finnish designer Jenni Ahtiainen, the brand transforms hearing instruments into bold, beautiful jewellery—known as ‘’Deafmetals’’—helping wearers reclaim their identity and feel proud of their hearing loss journey. Website: https://www.deafmetal.store

Now, ‘’Deafmetal’’ is being honoured on one of the world’s most prestigious stages. The Victoria and Albert Museum in London has chosen the brand for its new exhibition Design and Disability, which celebrates the radical contributions of disabled, deaf and neurodiverse creatives to global design culture.

For Ahtiainen and her team—all of whom are either hearing instrument users or work closely with hearing loss—this moment is deeply personal. “I didn’t want to hide my hearing aids,” Ahtiainen explains. “I wanted to make them mine.” That ethos now has a powerful home in the V&A’s collection.

But there’s practicality, too. ‘’Deafmetal’’ pieces aren’t just decorative. They also serve a protective function, securing devices with earrings, rings, or holsters so they don’t fall out. This feature is especially valued by athletes, older users (whose ears change shape over time), and anyone who’s experienced the panic of losing a hearing instrument mid-walk or mid-dog-chase.

“We’re launching a new range specifically for men and active users,” Ahtiainen shares. “It’s not just about aesthetics. It’s about function, safety, and confidence.”

“Too many people still avoid or delay wearing hearing instruments because of stigma,” says BIHIMA Chairman Paul Surridge. “Design-led solutions like Deafmetal are vital. They don’t just improve the user experience—they challenge the outdated attitudes that surround hearing loss.”

According to the last EuroTrak UK survey, nearly a quarter of people with hearing loss still wait more than five years before seeking help, and stigma remains a key barrier. Our 2024/25 audiologist survey also revealed concerns around hearing instrument uptake, with professionals calling for more tools to support patient confidence and engagement.

Many audiologists have embraced the products as tools for improving confidence, retention, and overall device usage. “Their job is to help people actually wear their hearing aids,” Ahtiainen explains. “Our Deafmetals support that in a way that feels human and joyful.”

What began as a personal project has become a global symbol of possibility. Today, ‘’Deafmetal’’ designs are worn in over 30 countries. Now, they’ve earned a place in the world’s largest museum of design history.

Source: The British and Irish Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association (BIHIMA)

Midland Hearing Care

22/08/2025

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Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm