PATIENT EDUCATION

Joanna Barker (Audiologist, Specialist in Tinnitus, Hyperacusis and Misophonia Rehabilitation) is the host of Hashir International Institute's Patient Education Programme (PEP) online meeting series 2 which started from September 2024. This second series of live streams started after our successful first series which was presented as Misophonia Lunchbreak Webinars hosted by Dr Mercede Erfanian PhD (the prominent misophonia and neuroscience researcher based in the Netherlands) and Rebecca (with lived experience of misophonia and successful management of it using a rehabilitation programme based on CBT). Click here to learn more about the first series.

The PEP is a part of our institute's Public Involvement initiative alongside our Art competition (Sound Off). See details of Sound Off here. The aims of the PEP are to (1) raise awareness about tinnitus, hyperacusis and misophonia and other relevant conditions, (2) provide up-to-date information about the latest research discoveries in the field, (3) discuss products, medical or surgical treatments and inventions that have the potential to help people experiencing misophonia, tinnitus and hyperacusis, (4) learn about how tinnitus, hyperacusis and misophonia can impact on the life of the sufferers and their significant others, (5) discuss (in simple language) the causes, underlying mechanisms, assessment, and management methods and their research evidence, and (6) exchange ideas about your solutions on how to help individuals who may be sensitive to sounds or have tinnitus so they can enjoy their workplace, school, and other family and social activities too!

Jaonna moderates the sessions and introduces the guest speaker(s) who are researchers, clinicians, social workers, artists, patients, entrepreneurs, representatives of charity organisations and other notable individuals or groups. Each PEP episode has 1-3 guest speakers who will talk about their latest research, clinical experience, policies, products and so on. Following the talks, Joanna takes questions from anyone attending live and we can have a conversation about the presented work and the ways that we can support people living with these conditions.

Join our PEP to learn about the updates on the work researchers have already been involved with. We have a line-up of scientists, specialist clinicians and academics from the UK, Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Belgium, and other places in the world who have spent many years conducting research studies on misophonia, tinnitus and hyperacusis. In this PEP series, you will have the opportunity to hear their story and to discuss with them your ideas and the implications of their research findings.

Suitable for members of public who are interested to learn about tinnitus, hyperacusis and misophonia, patients, parents of children with hyperacusis or misophonia, students, Audiologists, Hearing therapists, Hearing aid dispensers, Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Otologists, Neurologists, Speech and language therapists, Occupational therapists, Nurses, Teachers of the deaf, social workers, General medicine, or other qualified health and social care disciplines.