Jan L. Mayes's Blog

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Quiet cheers to Speech-Language Audiology Canada for adding an Over the Counter Hearing Aid Resource Centre to their website. While these products can help improve access to hearing healthcare, SAC emphasizes “the need for strong regulation, clinical support, and public education to ensure their safe and effective use.” Unaided hearing loss is linked to a higher risk of dementia. Untreated distressing tinnitus and hyperacusis are linked to lower well-being. Hearing aids fit to each person’s ...

I’m going really high tech.

You’ve listened to simulated tinnitus and noise-induced hearing loss on my SoundCloud. (If not, check it out! Scare yourself. Scare friends and loved ones.)

But are you ready for my new TikTok channel?

Are you ready for my 2 new YouTube channels?

I’m a quiet activist and retired audiologist. I’ve had hyperacusis forever and tinnitus for about 40 years. My channel Safe Sound Science with Granny Jan covers coping with tinnitus, hyperacusis, and dangerous sou...

My latest article in Tinnitus Today (Spring 2025) is titled When the patient becomes the clinician: Rethinking care for sound hypersensitivity. I have also developed some sample tinnitus and hyperacusis handouts, worksheets, and guidelines to go with my article. These are available on my website under Non-Fiction Resources (also linked at the bottom of this news post).

As a short summary, scientists estimate 0.2 to 17.2% of the general population have hyperacusis, as well as 3.2 to 17.1% of c...

Image by Aditya Chinchure on Unsplash.

What does it sound like to have tinnitus caused by loud music or noise exposure?

I’ve put together a short SoundCloud playlist of noise-induced hearing loss simulations. These give a small idea of what it’s like to live with tinnitus, difficulty understanding speech, and loss of music enjoyment because of preventable neurosensory hearing health damage.

There are no audio simulations for hyperacusis or decreased sound tolerance where the brain ...

I got a new tuxedo kitten as a friend for Swiss (cheese not country). But Professor PJ Patches is not my big announcement. After recent health problems, I’ve decided to find new ways of sharing my scary stories plus tinnitus and hyperacusis coping toolbox info.

I’m working on developing a YouTube presence. I’ll be sharing tinnitus and hyperacusis self-help strategies. This will include safe sound science on preventing noise-induced tinnitus, hyperacusis, and hearing loss.

Hopefully my per...

In New Zealand, the Ministry of Education has updated their website to address health and safety management of digital device use by staff and students. This was done in consultation with WorkSafe New Zealand and the Pediatric Society of New Zealand.

The Pediatric Society of New Zealand recommendations are based on the study I co-authored last year titled: Impact of digital screen use on health and wellbeing of children and adolescents: A narrative review.

Their recommendations includ...

In New Zealand, the Ministry of Education has updated their website to address health and safety management of digital device use by staff and students. This was done in consultation with WorkSafe New Zealand and the Pediatric Society of New Zealand.

The Pediatric Society of New Zealand recommendations are based on the study I co-authored last year titled: Impact of digital screen use on health and wellbeing of children and adolescents: A narrative review.

Their recommendations includ...

I’m happy to share that my new article was published in the Winter 2024 issue of Tinnitus Today. The focus is nurturing healthy digital habits among today’s youth.

Children and teenagers using headphones and earbuds linked to laptops, TV screens, tablets, smartphones, and gaming consoles have become almost as common to see as kids wearing backpacks. A recent research review (that I co-authored) found widespread negative impacts from recreational and educational screen time on the health a...

Warning: This fiction story contains dark humour, violence, and coarse language. It is not appropriate for young or sensitive readers.

Silvia’s stomach flipped as she ran to answer the front door. Through the glazed window panes, she saw a dark silhouette with a peaked cap. The police emblem slightly brighter than the surrounding material.

She took a deep breath and opened the door. Pasting on a smile.

“Is Harvey here?” asked the officer.

“He won’t be back until late this evening,” s...