Dr Alex Barker

Cochlear Implant Process – Part 1 Back at the start of the year, I noticed a significant ‘dip’ in my hearing and booked in to have a test. At the test this was confirmed and they were worried about the rate of decline a…

Cochlear Implant Process - Part 1 thetalkingdeaf.wordpress.com/2025/11/13/c...

Reflections on ‘The Kingdon Review’ The news this week about the Kingdon report (Is the Kingdon Review a wake-up call for NHS audiology services? – RNID) has left me in a reflective mood. Whilst this largely relates to children…

Reflections on 'The Kingdon Review' thetalkingdeaf.wordpress.com/2025/11/11/r...

Just cited ‘Ladbible’ in an ethics application and I feel academically unclean.

Cheer me up by telling me the most unhinged reference you have ever used.

#academia

No link between paracetamol use during pregnancy and autism or ADHD in children In the largest epidemiologic study to date of the risk of giving birth to a child with autism, ADHD or intellectual disability following acetaminophen use during pregnancy, researchers found no association. The study is now published in JAMA.

Despite what Trump says, there is no link between paracetamol (tylenol) and autism.

Great to hear - how was your adjustment to them? I’m assuming it takes a while to get used to them?

Saw some lovely pups from @hearingdogs.org.uk at Asda on the way back from work.
They got all of my change.
Ive also spent the afternoon trying to persuade my wife we should look into this further 🐕‍🦺🤣

Guess who forgot to unpair my bluetooth hearing aids before the alarm…may have just lost a few more decibels with that one, ouch! I’m still ringing 😂

Officially referred for a cochlear implant assessment today 😬 this feels like a big step, could be a good thing

Haha - all door codes and the process are like muscle memory from binging this in my youth 🤣 ‘anxiety - filled walking tour’ is a great description!

A screenshot of final result screen from resident evil HD showing a completion time of 1:50:02

A screenshot of the resident evil hd global normal mode leaderboard with my time being 234th

Sometimes, I think I’m old and past it…but then I remember that I can speed-run the gamecube classic @residentevil.capcomusa.com Resident Evil HD remake in 1:50, glitch less (234th globally, apparently).

Beat that young folks!

New publication! ‘Exposure to #alcohol content in the media is a factor in experimenting with alcohol and continued use. This review extends this view to consider #SocialNorms and #SocialIdentity as a potential pathway through which alcohol marketing exerts its effect’

www.mdpi.com/3391466

Is tobacco promotion through music making a comeback? - Blog - Tobacco Control Alexander Barker We know that there are tobacco references in music and in the image portrayed by musicians, often associated with themes of rebellion. Smoking content in the media is a causal factor ...

#Glastonbury had #The1975, which has drawn mixed reviews for Matty Healys ‘outlandish’ behaviour. Resharing this I wrote about him using and seemingly promoting #cigarette #tobacco brands through the use of branded packs, 6 years after the ban during an indoor gig…
blogs.bmj.com/tc/2023/03/0...

10 years after my hearing loss was first noted, finally had a diagnosis of progressive genetic deafness

Latest appt’s due to panic about the level of loss, and led to consider a cochlear implant.

Has anyone gone from aids to a cochlear implant? What was this like?

#Deaf #Deafness #CochlearImplant

Happy switch 2 day for all who celebrate! SW-2267-4054-0917

Really exciting to present our work on the effects of exposure to #alcohol marketing at @midshealthpsych.bsky.social annual conference

a man wearing a helmet with wings is standing in front of a body of water Alt: Will Ferrell in Eurovision: The Story of Fire saga, wearing a helmet with wings and singing Volcano Man

Finished teaching for the trimester, its #eurovision week, and its time for our annual re-watch ready for the madness on Saturday!🎶

www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18...

New Open Access Publication🚨here we explored barriers and enablers for engaging in #PhysicalActivity in #Deaf adults.

Happy 3rd year anniversary of Trisha mistitling me as a ‘professor’.

It’s become my daily affirmation - if Trisha believes in me then so do I! 😂

The best part about this is that the title I’d stated beforehand (Dr), has even been used as well! 😔

Thanks and all the best for yours. Fingers crossed!

Audiogram showing sloping severe loss in both ears

First audiogram in 2 years and a bit of a shock yesterday. Feeling pretty down and out about this but there’s a plan in place and moulds have been taken.

Has anyone changed from domes to moulds? What was this like?

Online auditorium - Alcohol Review Join a uniquely powerful and sustainable global forum for anyone involved in overcoming the profound challenges of alcohol harm.

Alcohol Review 2025 @alcoholreview.bsky.social was fantastic today with two excellent live talks from @grantennis.bsky.social & Alice Wiseman. You can catch up on the talk's and spotlight sessions here: alcohol-review.com/alcohol-revi...

Join Alcohol Review 2025 this Thursday, 10am-noon, UK time
Programme alcohol-review.com
Join us: alcohol-review.com/join-us/

AR2025: Two more sessions are set for launch on Thursday, one looking at how to reduce alcohol's cancer burden in Europe and another exploring the intimidation of researchers of harmful industries. @cancerleagues.bsky.social @tcrgbath.bsky.social
Join us: alcohol-review.com/join-us/

This looks like a fantastic project!

You’re commentary on this is making me want to dust off my gamecube to play this again 😂

Episode 12: Commercially driven norms around drinking with Emeka Dumbili Money Power Health with Nason Maani · Episode

open.spotify.com/episode/6R7H...

New episode of Money Power Health
Alcohol industry edition
Commercially driven norms

Was good fun putting this together and a really interesting look at the UK regulations on alcohol brand promotion and how The Kardashians may be using their programme to promote 818 tequilla

An image of my hearing aids with a bright green cable twist on the tubing. A roger microphone and t-loop receiver can be seen

Happy World Hearing Day! This day is supposed to be about raising awareness for hearing loss and hearing care but I thought I’d do something different and celebrate the tech that enables me to do my work. Without this, I would not be able to work in education. #WorldHearingDay

Great idea!

Fat tony and his cronies from the Simpsons