Newsletter

Good listening is much more than just hearing sounds, it’s about how your brain processes what you hear. Many people find conversations effortful, particularly in noisy environments, group settings, or when speech is fast. This can occur whether you have hearing loss, use hearing aids, or even with normal hearing.

LACE AI Pro is a personalised listening training program designed to strengthen the brain’s listening skills in real-world situations. Think of it like physiotherapy for the brain. Through short, interactive sessions completed at home on your smartphone, tablet or computer, the program targets key areas including understanding speech in background noise, processing faster speech, following conversation when information is incomplete, auditory memory, and overall listening confidence. Research shows that after about 6 hours of listening practice (10-15 minutes/day over about 6 weeks), 25% improvement can be achieved!

For people who wear hearing aids, LACE AI Pro can enhance the benefits of amplification by helping the brain make better use of the sounds hearing aids provide. Similarly, those with “normal hearing” and have listening challenges also benefit from using LACE AI Pro.

A one-off licence cost of $249 provides lifetime access. To learn more or sign up, please contact your local clinic.

It’s hard to believe that after 34½ years, Janet Kingman retired from audiology and from Helix Hearing on February 18 , 2026. After arriving from South Africa, newly married to her husband Greg, Janet began her career at Gippsland Audiology Services with Sue and Neil Clutterbuck. Remarkably, she has now worked at Gippsland Audiology/Helix Hearing even longer than the founding directors!

We know we echo the sentiments of the many patients Janet has supported over the years. Her dedication to hearing and ear health care has made a lasting impact on the Gippsland community, particularly through the Sale and Morwell clinics.

Looking ahead, Janet is excited to stay busy with travel adventures and to volunteer with Elder Rights Australia as a Visitor, supporting older people at risk of isolation in their homes or residential care. We wish Janet all the very best in this next chapter and thank her for an extraordinary career filled with compassion, expertise, and service.

Similarly, it’s hard to believe that the Morwell office will be without Bev Milner as she retired on February 24 , 2026. Bev has been with Gippsland Audiology/Helix Hearing for 19 years, working in the Morwell clinic but also flexible to help out to cover leave at other clinics. Previously working at the SEC, many of our patients recognised and remembered Bev from working together.

Bev’s outstanding customer service was recognised by Morwell Rotary Club in 2017, receiving the Pride of Workmanship award.

If you know Bev, you know she won’t be sitting still in retirement. Bev has plenty to keep her occupied as a grandmother and pony club activities. Thank you Bev for your outstanding contribution to Helix Hearing and the community over the past 19 years!

Have you ever felt quite startled after a sudden and unexpected loud sound? Does the thought of a balloon popping make you tremble?

Experiencing a fright from a sudden and unexpected loud sound can be quite common. When this happens, we jump into a startle reflex and the “tensor tympani” muscle in our ear will contract to try and dampen the sound! This happens way before we even put our hands to cover our ears.

However, in rare instances, it is possible to develop a psychological and involuntary trauma reaction to specific loud sounds. This is called “acoustic shock, ” and those who have experienced this sometimes describe it as like being “stabbed” in the ear! Those who work in call centres with telephone headsets, or musicians working in an orchestral pit, for example, are prone to exposure of loud, sudden sounds that increase the risk of acoustic shock.

While acoustic shock symptoms usually go away, it is possible for hyperacusis to develop and for symptoms to persist. This is known as “acoustic shock disorder. ” Someone with this disorder may feel that their hearing has become muffled and/or distorted, or that their ears feel blocked or have a dull ache. In some cases, one may develop mild vertigo and/or nausea, or a “shock response” resulting in disorientation, shaking, headache or fatigue.

Can acoustic shock disorder cause hearing loss?
Acoustic shock disorder does not generally result in a hearing loss in the same way that a noiseinduced injury would. Although it is possible for the acoustic incident to be loud enough to cause both an acoustic shock and noise damage, they rarely come hand in hand. If a hearing loss is present, it is more likely a result of hyperacusis that leads to intense, frequent contractions of the tensor tympani muscle, causing tensor tympani syndrome (TTS). TTS may result in a mild hearing loss in low and midfrequencies, as the continuous contractions lead to changes in the ear.

-Rick Liang, Audiologist