News

Oticon Foundation grant allows University of Canterbury to investigate prevention of hearing loss

Significant grant from Oticon Foundation allows University of Canterbury to
investigate prevention of hearing loss



The Oticon Foundation in New Zealand has awarded a research grant of almost
$350,000 to the University of Canterbury to investigate the prevention of
hearing loss during ear surgery.

“This is a major financial commitment to a substantial research project by
the University of Canterbury’s Department of Communication Disorders into
methods to monitor hearing and reduce hearing loss during otologic surgery –
or ear micro-surgery,” says Tim Olphert, Chairman to the Trustees, of The
Oticon Foundation in New Zealand.

“The Oticon Foundation has reviewed the proposed research headed by Dr Greg
O’Beirne (PhD) and Mr Phil Bird (MBChB, FRACS) and believes it is of such
significant importance internationally that it is providing the
$340,895.53needed to fund the three year project.”

The grant was awarded at a function in Christchurch on Wednesday 25
November.

This research is likely to benefit the large number of people undergoing
otologic surgery, around 60 per year in Christchurch alone, with thousands
more worldwide.

The funding will help establish a world leading centre for intra-operative
audiological research in Christchurch, and will facilitate a range of future
projects in this area.

“This research is all about better outcomes for patients,” says Mr Phil
Bird, who is also an ear specialist in Christchurch and senior lecturer at
the University of Otago. “Occasionally patients have problems with hearing
and balance after surgery. This research will allow us to look at these
issues and the interventions in a systematic way to get better results for
patients.”

“The project aims to reduce the likelihood of hearing loss occurring during
otologic surgery by improving current methods of intraoperative
neurophysiological monitoring of auditory function and investigating the
effectiveness of pharmacological interventions aimed at preventing inner ear
damage,” says Dr Greg O’Beirne.



Intra-operative monitoring provides the surgeon with information about the
status of the inner ear and cochlear nerve while surgery is happening.
This provides
a means of reducing or eliminating permanent damage to the cochlea or
cochlear nerve during surgery by detecting changes in function early enough
to allow the surgical team to modify their procedure.

The first stage will start shortly with the development of the monitoring
system to be used during surgery. The new system will enable continuous
objective measurement of both middle- and inner-ear function, and will use
new stimuli and measurement techniques that help improve the quality
(signal-to-noise ratio) of the intraoperative recordings.

“We are very thankful to the Oticon Foundation for supporting this major
piece of work,” says Dr O’Beirne. “We will provide regular updates on
progress. Results from the study will be published in international
peer-reviewed journals, and presented at national and international
conferences.”

The Oticon Foundation in New Zealand was established in October 1976. It is
a charitable trust of Oticon New Zealand Limited and aims to improve the
lives of the hearing impaired in New Zealand through communication and
knowledge. It is committed to finding better solutions to hearing loss and
strives to increase public awareness and understanding of hearing
impairment.

*For more information please contact Karen Pullar, Secretary to the Oticon
Foundation in New Zealand, Phone 021 647 330 or Dr Greg O’Beirne, Department
of Communication Disorders, University of Canterbury, Phone: 03 364 2431
Email: gregory.obeirne@canterbury.ac.nz.*