A study of 434 patients found that complications from cochlear implants were highly correlated with trauma and inner ear malformations. The majority (65.1%) of delayed complications occurred after an average delay of 2.2 years, while major complications included severe infections and misplacement of the electrode.
Experts are conducting a large-scale study to measure the hearing of people with HIV/AIDS and compare it to those without, aiming to uncover the relationship between the disease and hearing loss. The research, supported by a $1.9 million grant, will also explore potential factors contributing to age-related hearing loss in these patients.
Fernandez-Valle's research aims to identify proteins that could deliver cancer-fighting drugs to NF2 tumors, potentially improving lifestyles and extending patients' lives. She has established nationally affiliated clinics in Florida, bringing together physicians with expertise in treating the disease.
A University of East Anglia study reveals that computers are now better at lip-reading than humans, with an 80% recognition rate compared to 32% for human viewers. The research suggests a new video-based training system can improve lip-reading skills with limited training.
A new protein has been identified as crucial for protecting sensory cells in the ear, according to a study led by University of Iowa researchers. The protein, claudin-9, helps maintain the separation of potassium ions between cells, preventing intoxication and functional defects.
Researchers identified a new protein that protects sensory cells in the ear, crucial for maintaining potassium balance and preventing intoxication. The study found mutations in the claudin-9 gene lead to functional defective sensory cells, highlighting the importance of this protein in hearing.
Biologists at CCNY and CSHL found that zebra finches isolated as juveniles produce songs similar to those sung by the species in the wild after multiple generations. The findings suggest that culture is encoded in birds, with traits emerging through evolutionary processes.
Scientists at the University of East Anglia have created lip-reading computers that can accurately identify different languages spoken by individuals. The technology uses statistical modelling of lip motions and was tested on a group of bilingual and trilingual speakers, achieving high accuracy rates across multiple languages.
A team of researchers identified two critical microRNAs that lead to abnormal ear development and progressive hearing loss when removed. The study also found potential for using these molecules as a regenerative tool to treat deafness and balance disorders.
A new study by Prof. Karen Avraham at Tel Aviv University has discovered that microRNAs are involved in the development of deafness, opening up new avenues for treatment and potential cure. The researchers found that microRNAs help regulate cell functions in the ear, and their loss can lead to progressive hearing loss.
The university is exploring the impact of molecular pathways on inner ear dysfunction in Usher Syndrome, a clinically and genetically heterogeneous disorder causing congenital deafness and retinitis pigmentosa. The grant aims to prevent hair cell death and promote otoprotection therapy.
A study found a microRNA gene, miR-96, associated with progressive hearing loss in humans and mice. The mutation disrupts the development of sensory hair cells, leading to dramatic loss of hearing.
A University of Montreal study reveals that over 60% of Quebec's manufacturing sector workers are exposed to noise levels exceeding the norm, increasing work-related accidents and road collisions. Workers with hearing losses face a 7% greater risk of injury.
Researchers have made a significant step forward in understanding the causes of certain forms of deafness by discovering that the myosin 7 motor protein moves and works differently from other myosins. This discovery could lead to new insights into Usher syndrome, a form of degenerative deaf-blindness.
MIT Sensory Communication Group researchers create tactile devices that translate sound waves into skin vibrations, improving communication for deaf people relying on lip reading. The devices could be integrated into smartphones, providing a cost-effective alternative to cochlear implants.
Deaf individuals can invent simple gestures called 'homesigns' in a family setting, which may eventually develop into conventional sign languages. Researchers will discuss the emergence and evolution of these language systems at the AAAS Annual Meeting.
Research shows that deaf children in Nicaragua create their own gesture systems, combining with homemade signs to form a new language-like system. This homesigning enables them to develop Nicaraguan Sign Language, a complex communication system that surpasses conventional spoken languages.
Researchers at Rice University, Texas Children's Hospital, and The Methodist Hospital Research Institute will investigate the mysteries of tuberculosis, breast cancer, and childhood cancer. They plan to develop novel treatments using lasers for deaf patients and create an auditory prosthetic superior to existing cochlear implants.
Researchers at Cornell University discovered that male and female mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti) create a harmonic duet just before mating. The frequency of this duet is approximately 400-600 hertz for the female and 600-1200 hertz for the male, significantly above previously thought limits.
Children's researchers found that ER stress and unfolded-protein response block leptin action in the brain; chemical chaperones can re-sensitize the brain to leptin, leading to significant weight loss. Leptin-sensitizing agents may bring new hope for obesity treatment
Researchers have identified genes that control cell death as contributing to age-related hearing loss. The study used mice to chart the activity of over 22,000 genes, finding eight genes involved in the apoptotic process whose activity differed between normal and hearing-loss mice.
A team of US engineers has successfully developed software that enables deaf and hard-of-hearing Americans to communicate using American Sign Language (ASL) over mobile phones. The breakthrough allows for real-time video communication, making it a significant improvement over text messaging, which can convey emotion but is slower.
MED-EL's new MAESTRO system demonstrates remarkable improvements in music enjoyment, with 91% of clinical investigation subjects reporting that music sounds pleasant with their cochlear implant. The FineHearing technology also provides statistically significant improvements in hearing in noisy environments.
Researchers found that individuals with tune deafness, an auditory processing disorder, can detect incorrect notes without conscious awareness. This discovery may help scientists study consciousness using genetic research tools.
Researchers have found that aminoglycosides and a new compound NB30 can suppress nonsense mutations in Usher syndrome, potentially delaying vision loss. The study aims to develop therapy to delay the progression of USH1-related disease.
A study by Indiana University School of Medicine found that bilateral cochlear implants significantly improve hearing in noisy environments and overall quality of life. The benefits of the second implant outweighed its added cost, offering improved cognitive skills and emotional well-being for profoundly deaf individuals.
Historical records show the evolution of signing and interpreting in court proceedings from 1725 to 19th century, highlighting the role of education and community in shaping British Sign Language. As deaf people gained access to education, their status in courts declined paradoxically.
A new study by Rochester Institute of Technology found that sign language interpreting causes more physical stress to the extremities than high-risk industrial tasks, increasing the risk of musculoskeletal injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis.
Researchers at Arizona State University are exploring the potential of electric-acoustic stimulation (EAS) technology to improve hearing in individuals with profound hearing impairment. By combining electric and acoustic stimulation, EAS has been shown to provide significant benefits, including improved performance in noisy environments.
A new study contradicts a prevailing belief about otoacoustic emissions, revealing they travel through fluid in the inner ear rather than rippling along the basilar membrane. The findings offer insight into hearing loss and could lead to the development of tools to detect damage.
A study by Montreal Neurological Institute researchers found that tone-deaf individuals have a thicker cortex in regions involved in auditory and musical processing. This parallels the observed cortex thickness in dyslexia, suggesting abnormal neuronal migration or cell pruning during development may contribute to the disorder.
Researchers at Rutgers University have made a breakthrough in understanding the complex mechanisms behind cochlear implants. By studying the role of neurotrophin proteins, they may be able to develop a new generation of implants that can improve hearing for all patients, regardless of their level of impairment.
The Lancet report highlights the need for donors to invest in chronic disease prevention and treatment. The authors argue that evidence is not dichotomous, but rather a continuum that should trigger action under certain conditions. Policymakers must evaluate the level of evidence required before intervening.
Research funding into deafness in the UK is only a fraction of the estimated £13.5 billion in productivity losses due to hearing impairment. The Lancet Editorial highlights the need for further interventions to prevent or reverse hearing damage and improve quality of life for those affected.
Fossils from Russia demonstrate that advanced hearing evolved much earlier than previously thought, around 260 million years ago. These early reptiles possessed a surprisingly modern ear with a large eardrum and bone structures similar to those found in modern animals.
A new technique to diagnose hearing loss is being developed at Purdue University, reflecting more natural listening situations with visual cues. The research aims to improve therapy and interventions, such as cochlear implants, for individuals with hearing loss.
Researchers identified cadherin 23 and protocadherin 15 as crucial proteins in the conversion of physical cues to electrochemical signals. These proteins form a complex called 'tip links' on hair cells in the inner ear, which is believed to have a central function in converting physical cues into electrical impulses.
A Saint Louis University study finds that pediatricians' efforts to encourage lifestyle changes in obese patients and their families are often futile due to a lack of motivation. Doctors recognize the challenges of changing patterns of behavior in low-income households with limited access to healthy food and time for physical activity.
Researchers have successfully implanted a tiny electrode array in the auditory nerve of cats, enabling them to hear a wide range of sounds. The device has several advantages over cochlear implants, including more precise activation of specific frequency signals and reduced electrical current requirements.
The DALYs system, widely used to measure public health interventions' effects, fails to account for the complexities of disability. Critics argue that this approach undervalues the lives of disabled individuals, instead prioritizing those without disabilities.
Researchers at WashU Medicine found that two anti-epileptic drugs can significantly reduce permanent hearing loss in mice exposed to loud noises. The drugs, trimethadione and ethosuximide, work by inhibiting the movement of calcium ions into nerve cells, which play a role in causing damage to hair cells and nerve cells.
Researchers used MRI scans to simulate everyday experience of people with cochlear implants, finding the angular gyrus plays a key role in decoding distorted sentences. In noisy environments, other brain regions are engaged to help interpret predictable speech.
Researchers found that increasing connexin26 in mice with missing connexin30 restored hearing sensitivity and prevented hair cell death. The discovery suggests a potential drug treatment for congenital deafness, which may replace gene therapy.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that deaf children with two cochlear implants can more accurately localize sounds over time. The study, led by Ruth Litovsky, suggests that having two implants allows children to better integrate sound information from both ears in their brain.
Researchers found that moths can detect and respond to bat calls, even when others cannot. The yellow underwing moth's ear adjusts its sensitivity in response to changing sound frequencies, allowing it to stay 'tuned' for up to several minutes after the call stops.
Researchers at the University of Bristol have discovered that Yellow Underwing moths change their ear sensitivity to bats' calls when being chased, and remain tuned for several minutes after. This phenomenon challenges current understanding of bat-moth co-evolution and has implications for other hearing systems in animals.
Researchers found that otoferlin is essential for a late step of neurotransmitter release and may act as the major calcium sensor triggering membrane fusion at the inner hair cell ribbon synapse. The study suggests cochlear implants could benefit individuals with otoferlin-linked deafness.
A new study has discovered that people with tone deafness lack white matter in the right inferior frontal gyrus, a key area for musical skills. The findings have implications for understanding normal music acquisition and diagnosing this lifelong disability.
A study of 124 women found that hormone-replacement therapy with progestin resulted in a 10-30% increase in hearing loss compared to estrogen-only or non-HRT groups. Women on progestin showed signs of damage in both the inner ear and brain used for hearing.
A new study shows that cochlear implants lead to improved spoken language skills in deaf children when used earlier, with the best results seen in those under 24 months old. The research suggests that these devices can help children learn spoken language at a level comparable to hearing peers.
Researchers have identified protocadherin-15 as a likely player in the moment-of-truth reaction in which sound is converted into electrical signals. The findings may help understand why some people temporarily lose their hearing after being exposed to loud noise, only to regain it a day or two later.
Researchers propose criteria for standardizing newborn hearing screening, including molecular genetic testing to identify common causes of birth-Expressed deafness. Prompt confirmation of abnormal results can dramatically improve educational outcomes for deaf infants.
Scientists found that Cx26 mutations may have an evolutionary advantage due to their role in wound healing and defense against bacterial invasion. A drug temporarily knocking out Cx26 protein could improve healing in various epidermal wounds.
Researchers develop a new mathematical framework to understand sound processing and find that the brain's signal coding is highly optimized for natural sounds. This breakthrough could lead to improved signal processing for compressed digital audio files and more efficient cochlear implants.
Researchers found a direct link between aldosterone levels and the ability to hear normally as people age. Lower blood levels of aldosterone are associated with severe hearing loss, suggesting that the hormone plays a role in maintaining good hearing.
Researchers found that deaf Nicaraguan boys developed complex grammatical components and used them in the same way as highly evolved languages. This suggests that the concept of 'subject' is an innate tendency in humans, existing before linguistic input or exposure to other language speakers.
A Hopkins study found that cochlear implants can prevent and even reverse damage to the brain's auditory nerve system in cats. The research supports earlier implantation of devices in young children born deaf, as it minimizes complications and maximizes hearing restoration success.
Brown Wilson, president of the Jessie F. Richardson Foundation, will receive the award for her work in developing assisted living projects serving diverse populations. Her innovative programs demonstrate excellence in translating research into practical application and policy.
Researchers studied individual neurons in cats' neocortex to understand multisensory integration, finding that many neurons can respond to multiple senses. The findings suggest that early sensory experiences play a significant role in shaping brain circuitry, with potential implications for treating disorders such as autism and dyslexia.
Researchers identified a rare syndrome resulting from a HOXA1 gene mutation, affecting horizontal eye movement, hearing, motor skills, and cardiovascular development. The study provides new insights into the role of HOXA1 in human brain development and may lead to ongoing research directions in developmental biology.