Meet the specialist

Dr. Hashir Aazh BSc, MSc, PhD (Audiologist, Specialist in Tinnitus & Hyperacusis Rehabilitation)

Over the last 15 years, Hashir has developed and managed several NHS tinnitus and hyperacusis services in London and Surrey. He has written over 30 scientific papers in the field of Audiology. In 2009 he was awarded the Joss Millar Shield from the British Society of Audiology. Hashir is an affiliate Assistant Professor at Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, Florida Atlantic University, USA.

Hashir is the course director for the tinnitus and hyperacusis therapy master classes at Guildford (UK), Zurich (Switzerland), Amsterdam (Netherlands), and Copenhagen (Denmark). He recently organised a highly regarded specialist training course for audiologists, otolaryngologists, psychiatrists and psychologists in Melbourne (Australia) on tinnitus and hyperacusis rehabilitation.

Hashir is an Associate Editor for the International Journal of Audiology, guest Editor of Noise & Health, and reviewer for The Laryngoscope, Psychosomatic Journal, BMJ, and The New England Journal of Medicine.

Hashir is the organiser of the International Conference on Hyperacusis: The relationship of Hyperacusis with Noise Sensitivity, Tinnitus, Hearing Loss and Misophonia. Hyperacusis conference is suitable for professionals as well as patients.

TV interview with Dr. Hashir Aazh on National Tinnitus Week 2018

Hashir supervises MSc students at University of Surrey and is the research and development lead at Audiology Department, Royal Surrey County Hospital. His current studies focus on:

Specialist therapy for tinnitus, hyperacusis, and misophonia rehabilitation
Factors related to tinnitus and hyperacusis handicap in old age
Factors related to insomnia, depression and anxiety in patients who experience tinnitus, hyperacusis, and misophonia
Tinnitus, hyperacusis and misophonia in children and teenagers
Causes of hyperacusis and misophonia
Therapy for auditory imagery

In order to receive updates on Hashirs work, new research findings and training opportunities follow @HashirAazh on Twitter and Hashir Aazh on LinkedIn.

Hashir is a member of

The Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists (RCCP)
British Society of Audiology (BSA)
British Academy of Audiology (BAA)
British Tinnitus Association (BTA)
International Society of Audiology (ISA)
American Academy of Audiology (AAA)
European Union of Hearing Aid Acousticians (EUHA)
American Tinnitus Association (ATS)

Professional impact

The definition of hyperacusis which was proposed by Hashir and his colleagues and published in the International Journal of Audiology (2016) has been used by the NHS choices and the British Academy of Audiology. This definition was ground-breaking as it made it clear that hyperacusis is only present when intolerance to sound causes significant distress and impairment in the individuals life. Being sensitive to certain sounds without developing significant distress doesnt classify as hyperacusis hence there is no need for any treatment for such cases.
Hashirs research in the field of audiology has influenced the British guidelines for hearing assessment, aural rehabilitation, and Forensic Neuropsychology.
Over 200 professionals (audiologists, hearing aid dispensers, physicists, psychologists, ENT, psychiatrists, and hearing therapists) have been trained by Hashir in his Tinnitus and Hyperacusis Masterclass worldwide.
Hashir is the Audiology champion for research in Surrey, Sussex and Kent Clinical Research Network, National Institute of Health Research (NIHR).