A student practising using ophthalmic equipment in the teaching lab

Sensory and Mental Health

The Sensory and Mental Health research group conducts cutting-edge research to better understand hearing-related disorders, vision impairment, and mental health and, crucially, how these areas interact to affect daily functioning. Our work focuses on identifying evidence-based, accessible solutions that address these often-overlapping challenges. Through this integrated programme of research, we aim to enhance wellbeing, reduce healthcare burden, and support individuals to lead fulfilling, independent lives.

Difficulties with hearing or vision can be life-altering, often leading people to withdraw from everyday activities and social interactions. Similarly, mental health challenges can shape how individuals interpret and respond to the world around them, making it difficult to participate in daily life. Although these experiences are closely connected, they are generally treated and studied in isolation.

The prevalence of both mental health conditions and sensory difficulties continues to rise, placing increasing pressure on individuals, families, and healthcare services. People with sensory impairments, such as low vision, tinnitus, and hearing loss experience significantly higher rates of anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges. These overlapping needs highlight the importance of research that recognises the deep interconnections between sensory and psychological wellbeing.

At the Sensory and Mental Health research group, our mission is to generate high quality research that improves outcomes for individuals living with these challenges. We bring together multidisciplinary expertise spanning psychology, clinical practice, and the sensory sciences of hearing and vision to conduct internationally recognised fundamental, applied, and translational research. Our work seeks not only to advance scientific understanding, but to ensure that evidence meaningfully shapes healthcare delivery, policy development, and support within the community.

We are committed to strong partnerships with charities, professional bodies, community organisations, and healthcare providers, ensuring that our research is co produced, relevant, and impactful. Our team has a long-standing record of world class contributions across diverse fields, including anxiety, hoarding, eating disorders, body image, tinnitus, hearing-related difficulties, low vision, and research involving Paralympic athletes.

By bringing together behavioural science, clinical research, and innovative technologies, our team is committed to translating this knowledge into practical, evidence-based solutions that enhance healthcare, support communication, strengthen independence, and help people thrive at every stage of life.

To make use of our research expertise, or find out more about what we do, please contact us at [email protected]

Our people

  • Hoarding
  • Tinnitus
  • Hearing aids
  • Visual impairment
  • Low vision
  • Reading
  • Psycho-acoustics
  • Participatory research
  • Wellbeing
  • Outcome measures
  • Intervention
  • Care pathways
  • Disability sport

Beukes, E. W., Andersson, G. and Manchaiah, V. (2026) Long-term Outcomes of Internet-Based Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Tinnitus: A 6 year follow-up longitudinal study. JAMA Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery.

Nollett, C., Ryan, B. and Latham, K. (2026) 'Humanising health care: Assessing the impact of an educational resource to share real patient stories with eye care students', British Journal of Visual Impairment, 44(1), pp. 226-231. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/02646196241294211

Aminu, A., Aspell, J. E., Vasconcelos e Sá, D. and Bright, P. (2025) 'Estimation of premorbid intelligence in schizophrenia: a systematic literature review', Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 47(4), pp. 327–371. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/13803395.2025.2525281

Belcher, H. L., van Marle, R., Ford, R. and Morein-Zamir, S. (2025) 'Too much of a good thing? When empathy becomes associated with depression and anxiety in women', Psychiatry Research Communications, 100213.

Kaminskiy, E., Staras, C., Brown, S. and Morein-Zamir, S. (2025) '“Falling between the cracks”: Investigating the competing challenges experienced by professionals working with people who hoard', PLoS One, 20(5), e0323389.

Kartal, E., Scott, J. and Morein‐Zamir, S. (2025) 'Attitudes to possessions in emerging adults: Predictors of hoarding behaviours and beliefs', British Journal of Clinical Psychology.

MacKinnon, R. C., Smith, L., López Sánchez, G. F., Pizzol, D., Allen, P., Rajasingam, S., ... Koyanagi, A. (2025) 'Association Between Unclean Cooking Fuel Use and Hearing Problems Among Adults Aged≥ 65 Years, a Cross‐Sectional Study', Health Science Reports, 8(4), e70717.

Manford, C., Allen, P. M., Beukes, E. and Rajasingam, S. (2025) 'Amplifying their voices: developing participatory research approaches with deafblind children and young people', Educational Action Research, 33(1), pp. 115-121.

Manford, C., Rajasingam, S., Allen, P. M. and Beukes, E. (2024) 'The barriers to and facilitators of academic and social success for deafblind children and young people: A scoping review', British Journal of Special Education, 51(3), pp. 332-346.

Miller, A., Crossland, M. D., Macnaughton, J. and Latham, K. (2025) 'The Usefulness of a Wearable Electronic Vision Enhancement System for People With Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Randomized Crossover Trial', TVST, 14(8). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1167/tvst.14.9.8

Somani, N., Street, A., Beukes, E. W., Zhang, J. and Allen, P. M. (2025) 'Music listening for psychological well-being in adults with acquired vision impairment: a feasibility randomised controlled trial', Frontiers in Psychiatry, 16, 1505283.

Wilkins, L., Benallal, N., Allen, P. M., Beukes, E. and Healy, L. C. (2025) 'Expectations and disadvantages: a case study approach exploring the mental health challenges of elite, student-athlete women', International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 23(7), pp. 1326-1347.

Beukes, E. W., Andersson, G. and Manchaiah, V. (2024) 'The indirect effect of an internet-based intervention on third-party disability for significant others of individuals with tinnitus', Audiology Research, 14(5), pp. 809-821.

Desai, N., Beukes, E. W., Manchaiah, V., Mahomed-Asmail, F. and Swanepoel, D. W. (2024) 'Consumer perspectives on improving hearing aids: A qualitative study', American Journal of Audiology, 33(3), pp. 728-739.

Salzer, E. B., Meireles, J. F. F., Kirk, E., Preston, C. E. J., Vasconcelos e Sá, D. and Neves, C. M. (2024) 'Body understanding measure for pregnancy scale (BUMPs): Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric properties among Brazilian pregnant women', Body Image, 49, 101689. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2024.101689

Tsimpida, D., Rajasingam, S., Panagioti, M. and Henshaw, H. (2024) 'The leaky pipeline of hearing care: primary to secondary care evidence from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA)', International Journal of Audiology, 63(5), pp. 349-357.

Haine, L. A., Formankiewicz, M. A., Lalor, S. J. and Waugh, S. J. (2023) 'Optimally crowded acuity enhances interocular differences in amblyopia', Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 64(8).

Latham, K., Subhi, H. and Shaw, E. (2023) 'Further validation of comfortable print size as a parameter for clinical low-vision assessment' TVST, 12(18). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1167/tvst.12.6.18

Manchaiah, V., Chundu, S., Ratinaud, P., Andersson, G. and Beukes, E. W. (2023) 'Social representations of “tinnitus” and “health” among individuals with tinnitus seeking online psychological interventions', Audiology Research, 13(2), pp. 207-220.

Somani, N., Beukes, E., Street, A., Lindsay, R., Smith, L. and Allen, P. M. (2023) 'Effectiveness of music-based interventions to address well-being in people with a vision impairment: a scoping review', BMJ Open, 13(9), e067502.

Wilkins, L., Beukes, E., Dowsett, R. and Allen, P. M. (2023) 'A qualitative exploration of the positive and negative experiences of individuals who play fantasy football', Entertainment Computing, 45, 100547.