The Bionic Ear Show is travelling west of the capital on January 30 to deliver its healthy hearing message at the Hounslow Rotary Club. The award winning show from national charity Deafness Research UK will be highlighting the effects of loud noise on the ears and how to protect a sense that is all too often taken for granted.

Sponsored by BUPA and the BIG Lottery Fund, the Bionic Ear roadshow is touring the country and driving home one of its key messages - that however old you are, it is never too late to take care of your hearing. Our hearing is as precious as our sight: a fact that people only tend to recognise when they are faced with losing it. The Bionic Ear Show has been designed to raise awareness of the dangers that many of us are unwittingly exposing our hearing to. There will be demonstrations of what it sounds like to have high frequency hearing loss, plus “Guess that tune” – allowing Rotary Club members to appreciate how easy or hard it is for people with cochlear implants (so-called “bionic ears”) to recognise everyday music.

The Bionic Ear Show will be with the Hounslow Rotary Club on Monday 30 January at the Master Robert Hotel, 366 Great Western Road, Hounslow between 8.30pm – 9.10pm. The 40 minute show will be followed by free hearing screening for those who would like it. The philosophy of the Rotary Club is “getting more out of life working together for others”, similar to the work of Deafness Research UK and the Bionic Ear Show. The charity remains committed to its mission to find a breakthrough cure for deafness while offering support and advice now. The Show is designed to be interactive, with the message aimed at old and young alike, so it is very easy to understand and no specialist scientific knowledge is required to enjoy the spectacle.

As well as the serious underlying message about hearing loss, the show is great fun and features among other things “the world’s largest ear!” During the show, the presenter constructs a model to highlight the different parts of the ear, which is over 22ft and 116 times the size of a normal human ear! Through this interactive and entertaining demonstration, the Rotary Club will learn how the ear works, what can go wrong and what can be done to put things right. “It is never too late to get the message about taking care of your hearing,” said Vivienne Michael, Chief Executive of Deafness Research UK.

“While deafness and tinnitus can develop as a result of old age, it is common for older people to have factors other than just age contributing to hearing loss and the Bionic Ear Show is the perfect medium to get this point across.” “The more people are aware of in relation to their hearing, the better the treatments they can expect” continued Vivienne. “By raising awareness of the issues, we are hopefully delivering the prospect of improved and healthy hearing for all.”

The Bionic Ear Show appeals to all ages and delivers interesting and informative demonstrations about how the ear works, and how to protect your hearing. The 2012 Bionic Ear Show will be coming to a town or city near you so please contact Laura Turner at Deafness Research UK if you would like the Show to come to your school, community group or event for free.