Bionic Ear Show comes to schools in Croydon:‘World’s Largest Ear’ set to cause sensation in Surrey

Sponsored by BUPA, the show aims to use an hour’s performance featuring the world’s largest ear, to teach pupils about how important and delicate their hearing is and to remind them of the risks they face to their hearing from loud music, among other important educational messages about hearing.

The Bionic Ear Show has been designed to raise awareness of the dangers that many of us are unwittingly exposing our hearing to, and for young people in particular about limiting exposure to loud music by turning down the volume on MP3 players. Our hearing is as precious as our sight: a fact that people only tend to recognise when they are faced with losing it. There will be demonstrations of what it sounds like to have high frequency hearing loss, plus "Guess that tune" – allowing the students to appreciate how easy or hard it is for people with cochlear implants (so-called "bionic ears") to recognise everyday music.

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 long and 116 times the size of a normal human ear! Through this interactive and entertaining demonstration, pupils will learn how the ear works, what can go wrong and what can be done to put things right.

Delivering the roadshow’s message into schools is an opportunity to engage pupils in these issues via interactive activities. In Croydon the aim is to ensure the next generation is not faced with the prospect of preventable deafness. Developed for audience participation, the message of the show is easy to understand and no specialist scientific knowledge is required to enjoy the spectacle.

The show is currently due to appear at the following schools in Croydon: Beulah Infant School for Key Stage 1 children on 26 May, between 9.30am to 10.00am, at St. James the Great Catholic Primary and Nursery School on 26 May, between 1.45pm and 3.10pm and at Beulah Junior School , Thornton Heath for the Key Stage 2 children on the 27 May between 2.00pm and 3.00pm. The show will be taking its message and its giant ear to several other schools in the London area and the rest of the country throughout the year.

"While the revolution in MP3 and phone technology has given us the benefit of music on the move, an unwelcome side effect is we are pumping up the volume into our ears and at a far earlier age than ever before," said Vivienne Michael, Chief Executive of Deafness Research UK. "The fear is many of us are unwittingly ‘downloading deafness’ and playing music at such high volume that we risk permanent deafness and tinnitus sooner than would be expected simply as a result of old age.

"One of the key messages the Bionic Ear Show is taking to schools is not to stop children using MP3 players, but to listen to their favourite sounds safely," continued Vivienne. "Turning the volume down slightly is such a simple thing to do and will enable today’s generation to continue to enjoy their music for years to come."

The Bionic Ear Show appeals to all ages and also includes free hearing tests along with other interesting and informative demonstrations about how the ear works, and how to protect your hearing. With the support of BUPA, the 2010 Bionic Ear Show will be coming to a town, city or school near you so please contact Deafness Research UK if you would like the Show to come to your school, community group or event for free. Bookings can be made by calling Laura Ganpot on 020 7679 8951 or email Laura at Laura.ganpot@deafnessresearch.org.uk.The schedule is subject to change, but an up to date version and further information can be found on the website at: www.bionicearshow.org

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