A longitudinal study of 150 deaf children will assess the impact of early language exposure on their visual attention and processing abilities. The research team hopes to determine whether early exposure to American Sign Language (ASL) enhances sequence processing in deaf students.
A $3 million grant will assess key differences in attitudes, knowledge and skills related to health information between deaf and hearing individuals. The project aims to understand mechanisms of visual learning as it relates to health information accessibility.
Todd Pagano, RIT's founding director of the Laboratory Science Technology program, has been named an outstanding undergraduate science educator. His American Chemical Society-approved program prepares deaf and hard-of-hearing students for careers in chemistry, with a success rate exceeding that of hearing peers.
Researchers at UConn investigate whether early exposure to sign language can forestall cognitive issues in deaf children, challenging a longstanding debate. The study finds that congenitally deaf children who learn sign language from birth develop language, cognition, and literacy on normal timetables.
A study by Michigan Medicine researchers found that many medical schools fail to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, making it difficult for prospective students with disabilities to find information and access accommodations. The researchers call on schools to reexamine their policies and improve compliance.
Researchers at RIT's NTID and University of Rochester Medical Center are analyzing the effects of e-cig flavorings using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The study will help determine potential toxicants and inform the FDA on long-term adverse effects, addressing a lack of knowledge about e-cig safety.
Researchers at Technical University of Munich create a highly active molecule that selectively targets the alphaVbeta6 integrin, a common marker in many types of cancer. This breakthrough could lead to patient-specific diagnoses and targeted therapies with minimal side effects.
A new UCL study found that concentrating attention on a visual task significantly reduces brain response to sound and increases failures to detect audible sounds. This phenomenon, known as inattentional deafness, has serious implications for everyday life and tasks requiring focus, such as operating theatres or driving.
A survey of 337 patients with hearing loss revealed three distinct strategies for disclosing their disability: basic disclosure, nondisclosure, and multipurpose disclosure. These strategies may empower patients to disclose their hearing loss and improve communication with others.
A new study by the University of Iowa found that parents' conversations with their children after an injury play a crucial role in shaping their safety values. The study revealed that parents are more likely to urge daughters than sons to be more careful and discuss why certain activities are dangerous, especially for older children. B...
Native ASL signers acquire intonation in three stages: appearance, reorganization, and mastery. Young signers use certain features with different frequencies than adults.
Researchers at UNT Health Science Center and The University of Texas at Arlington have developed a user-friendly system that alerts individuals with sleep apnea to airflow leaks in their PAP machines. This system may motivate patients who give up on treatment due to discomfort or inconvenience.
Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School used gene therapy to restore hearing in mice with genetic deafness. The treatment successfully restored the ability of sensory hair cells to respond to sound and partially restored actual hearing in deaf mice.
A collaborative project between the University of Leeds and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust aims to improve access to music for people using hearing aids. The research will explore how music listening experiences are affected by deafness, hearing impairments and the use of hearing aids.
Researchers found that brain areas normally dedicated to hearing can adapt to early-stage hearing loss, affecting cognitive decline and speech perception. The study suggests that this compensatory adaptation may lead to decreased brain resources for processing sound.
Researchers explored how wind turbines impact prairie chicken courtship, the emergence of spoken language in deaf children with cochlear implants, and the effects of noise on human cardiovascular health. These studies showcase innovative approaches to understanding animal behavior, hearing technology, and the impact of sound on our lives.
Elective tubal sterilization is readily available to women with private payment, but Medicaid beneficiaries face a 30-day wait. Experts argue that this violates healthcare justice and access to permanent contraception for low-income women. The policy restricts nearly half of annual deliveries paid by Medicaid.
A recent study found that disabled girls and women are at risk of abuse by carers and intimate partners due to their physical and social isolation. The research highlights the need for specialist support services and organizations to help these vulnerable individuals.
New research from Northwestern University suggests that singing accurately is a learned skill that can decline over time if not used. Regular practice can help improve singing skills and prevent the 'use it or lose it' effect, where adults may struggle to sing on key as they age.
A study found Deaf adults have high risk factors for heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension, with many undiagnosed or untreated conditions. Poor communication and lack of interpreters exacerbate the issue, leading to missed diagnoses and ineffective treatment.
New research indicates charter schools' opponents are failing to persuade even moderate Democrats, while supporters create enduring support by highlighting non-unionized teachers and the benefits of charters in poorer districts.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have developed a modified version of an aminoglycoside that works effectively in mice without causing deafness or kidney damage. The new antibiotic, N1MS, was created by modifying the drug molecule to prevent it from entering the inner-ear cell's ion channels.
Research from the University of Southampton shows that identifying deafness early can significantly improve teenagers' reading development. The study found that children who were screened for hearing impairment at birth had better language skills and reading abilities than those not screened.
Researchers discovered that beat-deafness is a problem of synchronizing with sounds, not just motor skills. Beat-deaf individuals can perceive rhythms but struggle when moving to the beat, indicating deficits in biological rhythms.
Researchers develop models to identify migratory patterns of species and find they do not stay put over millions of years. UC geologists also recreate ancient Ohio environments using mud cracks and deposits, providing insights into significant ecological change.
A new algorithm developed by ETH Zurich researchers enables smartphones to understand hand gestures, allowing users to control their devices with ease. The program recognizes six different gestures and executes corresponding commands, such as switching between browser tabs or scrolling pages.
Researchers found that infants with profound hearing loss who received cochlear implants reached vocalization levels of their hearing peers. This suggests that hearing is a critical aspect of motivation for making early sounds, and that auditory feedback plays a dynamic role in infant behavior.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University discovered that a genetic form of deafness is caused by the absence of thyroid hormone during development. The study found structural and molecular defects consistent with hypothyroidism or disrupted thyroid hormone action in affected mice.
Grand Challenges Canada awards $2.4 million to 22 projects addressing major health burdens in low-resource countries, including tuberculosis, deafness, and mental health problems. Innovations include a personal eyepiece for deaf children and sterile drill covers for low-cost orthopaedic trauma surgery.
Researcher Susan Goldin-Meadow found that hand gestures play a crucial role in language learning for both hearing and deaf children. Gestures help children develop language skills and can even become a primary means of communication in the absence of a spoken or sign language.
Deaf students can now fully participate in planetarium shows and enjoy literacy tools like a virtual dictionary that provides video definitions. The innovative technology is also being explored as a tool for assisting deaf clients in medical settings.
Indiana University researchers identified a pattern of cognitive risks in children with cochlear implants, particularly in working memory, controlled attention, and planning. About 30-45% of children with cochlear implants showed delays in these areas, compared to 15% or less in normally hearing children.
A partnership between psychologists and physicians can produce a comprehensive, integrated personal care plan that includes attention to mental and medical disorders. The collaboration can help improve diagnosis, address substance abuse issues, and incorporate health behavior change, leading to better primary health care outcomes.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University have discovered that DNA therapy can preserve inner ear nerve cells in humans with certain types of progressive hearing loss. The study uses a protein growth factor to block degeneration and has important implications for enhancing sound perception with cochlear implants.
A 16-week healthy lifestyle program taught in American Sign Language resulted in moderate improvements in weight and physical activity among deaf adults. The study, led by Dr. Steven Barnett, found that 58.3% of participants lost at least 5% of their baseline weight.
Researchers at WashU Medicine are studying asymmetric hearing loss, which affects communication difficulties beyond mild disability. They aim to understand brain reorganization and develop new treatments to restore hearing in adults and children with one ear deaf and the other ear partially or fully hearing.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new, low-power signal-processing chip that could lead to a wirelessly rechargeable cochlear implant without external hardware. The device uses the natural microphone of the middle ear and can be charged via an ordinary cell phone in two minutes.
Researchers at TUM developed a computer model of acoustic coding in the inner ear and neuronal information processing by the brain stem, allowing for improved coding strategies and faster testing of new devices. This advancement has the potential to significantly reduce development cycles and provide better hearing outcomes for patients.
RIT's Project IMPRESS aims to teach students self-reflection and self-assessment skills to improve success rates. The program uses a three-pronged approach, including a summer experience and learning assistant role.
Researchers developed a new way to process signals in cochlear implants, allowing users to perceive differences between musical instruments. The technique significantly improved timbre recognition, but melody perception remained challenging.
A Tel Aviv University study found that the saliva of heavy cell phone users showed higher oxidative stress levels, a process that damages human cells and is linked to cancer. The research adds to growing evidence that cell phone use may be harmful in the long term.
Two proteins, TMC1 and TMC2, critical for hearing were identified by researchers at Boston Children's Hospital. The study found that these proteins form channels converting sound waves into electrical signals for the brain.
Researchers from University of California have found a way to improve cochlear implant functionality by inducing neurons to extend neurites towards the implant. This study published in Neural Regeneration Research, used soluble neurotrophins and collagen gels to grow cochlear neurites, increasing their numbers and length.
A new eight-week intervention involving Head Start children and their parents produced significant improvements in attention, brain functions, and parental stress. The program's focus on selective attention and positive parenting practices led to improved cognitive abilities and reduced stress levels.
A pilot study explores using iPad technology to facilitate remote interpreting for deaf and hard-of-hearing college students. The research found that this technology can enhance student engagement in co-op experiences, but challenges arise from connectivity issues.
Young zebra finches can learn their fathers' songs via their brothers, and this learning process is similar to human speech acquisition. The study found that juvenile siblings with no father exposure learned the same song as those exposed to a brother's song for a short period.
Researchers found that female cowbirds unable to recognize high-quality male songs alter flock behavior, affecting both males and females. The study highlights the interconnected nature of individual behavior and social environments in bird species.
A study published in PLOS ONE shows that English speakers can quickly recognize key structures of American Sign Language (ASL) and distinguish syllables from morphemes. However, participants were unable to learn signs that violated the structure of ASL or other known languages.
Researchers found that mice do not need to learn to vocalize and can produce the same suite of ultrasonic sounds regardless of whether they are deaf or hearing. This discovery points the way to a genetic tool for studying speech and its disorders, shifting focus from learning to genetic mechanisms.
Deaf individuals need culturally sensitive treatment to avoid misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment due to communication challenges. Clinicians should seek specific training and education to become culturally competent providers, especially those working with Deaf patients.
A recent study published in The Journal of Pediatrics reveals that highly sensitive parenting is crucial for language growth in children with severe to profound hearing loss. Children whose mothers displayed high sensitivity showed significant improvements in oral language development compared to those with less sensitive parents.
A recent study found that deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHoH) physicians spend significant personal time arranging for accommodations, highlighting the need for institutional support. The survey of 56 DHoH clinicians revealed that adapting accommodations to individual needs is key to success.
Researchers have developed a novel therapeutic approach to treat deafness and balance impairment by injecting mice with an antisense oligonucleotide that targets a specific gene mutation. The treatment, which was tested on mice engineered to model human Usher syndrome, successfully rescues hearing and cures balance problems.
A new therapy called an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) has been developed by researchers at LSU Health Sciences Center, which partially corrects gene and protein expression and rescues hearing and balance in a mouse model of Usher syndrome. This breakthrough suggests the potential for treating deafness and balance disorders.
Scientists have successfully regenerated sensory hair cells in an adult mammalian ear using a drug, resulting in partial recovery of hearing in mice. The breakthrough holds promise for future therapeutic applications to reverse deafness in humans.
Research suggests that speaking skills play a vital role in closing the gap between hearing-impaired and normal-hearing children in the classroom. Children with better speech intelligibility exhibit higher social competence and reduced feelings of loneliness, according to Tel Aviv University researcher Prof. Tova Most.
A crowdsourcing site has compiled a new lexicon of signs for scientific and technical terms in American Sign Language (ASL). The ASL-STEM Forum, launched by the University of Washington, allows members of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community to build their own guide to the evolving lexicon of science.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute discover TMHS protein, a key component of mechanotransduction channels in the ear. The finding suggests a promising new approach to gene therapy for certain types of deafness, as it restores sound perception in newborn deaf mice.
Researchers successfully repair and read-through stop mutations responsible for Usher syndrome, offering hope for patients with the disease. The team developed gene-based treatment strategies using zinc-finger nuclease technique and aminoglycosides, which show promise in preclinical studies.
A study on young children's use of British Sign Language found that iconic signs were comprehended and produced more by younger children, with the benefit increasing for older children. This suggests that iconicity may play an important role in language acquisition, providing a mechanism for early sign learning.