RNID: For deaf and hard of hearing people.

Advances in hearing aid and cochlear implant technology are making it easier to hear and to understand speech. Remarkable progress has also been made towards understanding the causes of hearing loss and tinnitus, raising the possibility of innovative and exciting new treatments to protect and improve hearing, and to alleviate tinnitus.

Areas of research

  • Understanding and preventing hearing loss
    We have funded projects that have helped us understand why hearing loss happens and projects which will help the prevention of hearing loss.
  • Improving hearing
    We have funded research into devices and strategies to improve hearing in people with a hearing loss. Projects have included research into hearing aids, cochlear implants and brain stem implants.
  • Restoring hearing
    Research aimed at restoration of neurons and sensory cells has also been funded by us and may one day offer the opportunity to restore hearing.
  • Tinnitus
    Research is beginning to find the biological causes of tinnitus. A better understanding of this will help to develop effective treatments.
  • Childhood deafness
    We have funded projects into the underlying causes of childhood deafness as well as projects to improve the education of deaf children.

PhD studentships

As well as funding cutting-edge research by the leading scientists in the field, RNID is also encouraging the brightest new students to enter research into hearing, deafness and tinnitus. In this way we are steadily increasing the number of dedicated UK hearing researchers working in the UK. Have a look at the range of very interesting projects our PhD students are working on at the moment or have already successfully completed. 

We would like to thank the generosity of all our supporters who have made this research possible. We want to build on the progress that has been made and turn scientific discoveries into real medicines and therapies to improve hearing and cure tinnitus. This will only happen with the continued help of our supporters, a greater involvement of the pharmaceutical industry, and a marked increase in funding going into hearing research. Find out ways you can help.