Articles tagged with Deafness
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.
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.
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.
In a groundbreaking study, researchers have identified a common variant in the GRM7 gene as being associated with susceptibility to glutamate excitotoxicity and hearing loss. The findings could lead to treatments that bring relief to millions of people worldwide suffering from age-related hearing loss.
Researchers found that modern club culture offers a more contained, regulated experience compared to underground raves. The emphasis on dancing and Ecstasy use has survived into the new era, but with increased regulation making it a more publicly acceptable form of partying.
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.
Studies of 40 speakers from four languages show consistent use of subject-object-verb order in gestures, contradicting linguistic assumptions. This natural ordering suggests that humans may shape language through nonverbal thought processes.
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 found that nearly 2400 patient records from 20 hospitals in Quebec revealed a significant correlation between communication problems and preventable adverse events. The study found that patients with comorbidities, psychiatric disorders, or multiple health issues were more likely to experience adverse events.
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.
Researchers found that mice genetically engineered to lack a particular protein have profound deafness and seizures, suggesting a pathway for exploring the hereditary causes of deafness and epilepsy in humans. The study also provides new insight into the role of glutamate, a chemical messenger involved in virtually every brain function.
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.
Researchers have identified two key proteins, cadherin 23 and protocadherin 15, that join together at the precise location where sound vibrations are converted into electrical impulses in the ear. This discovery sheds light on the hearing process and may lead to more precise therapies for treating people 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.
Gambel's white-crowned sparrows use testosterone to trigger seasonal growth of brain regions responsible for song production. The study found that deafened birds still grew larger song control areas as large as hearing birds, but sang less often.
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.
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 Stanford University School of Medicine are exploring stem cell transplants as a potential treatment for hearing loss. The goal is to develop a cure for deafness, with a focus on drug therapy and stem cell transplantation into the inner ear.
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 have discovered that mutations in the espin protein can impair hearing by causing floppy bundles of protein filaments in hair cells. This structure change prevents the transmission of nerve impulses to the brain, leading to deafness. The findings offer a potential 'rescue' mechanism for this form of deafness.
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 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 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.
A study of 50 pairs of fraternal twins with hearing loss identified a specific region of DNA, DFNA18 on chromosome 3, that may contain an important locus for hearing loss in the general population. The findings suggest variation in genes within this region could lead to differences in susceptibility to hearing loss.
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 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 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that children who received cochlear implants before 30 months old fully integrated speech perception in their brains. In contrast, those who received implants later relied solely on lip movements to understand conflicting auditory and visual information.
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.
Rutgers-Newark psychology researchers found that individuals with selective and complete haptic deafferentiation, a rare neurological disorder, struggle to simulate others' actions due to lack of body perception. They successfully estimated weight but failed to recognize deception.
Researchers at U Iowa successfully used RNA interference to prevent genetic deafness in mice, offering a potential new treatment for humans. The gene-silencing technique targets dominant negative mechanisms that cause deafness in humans.
Researchers, led by Daniel Eberl, studied the Myosin VIIA gene in fruit flies to understand deafness. They found that this gene is essential for hearing in both fruit flies and humans. This discovery will help scientists design experiments to test specific mechanisms of hearing.
A wearable captioning system developed at the Georgia Tech Research Institute allows users to customize captions in any venue that provides captioning. The system relies on mobile wireless technology and can transmit multiple text streams, making it potentially useful for language translation as well.
Researchers at RIT have created a wearable eye tracker that enables subjects to wear the technology outside of the laboratory and even outdoors. The device tracks how eye movements support perception and what people pay attention to in order to gather information for everyday activities.
Researchers analyzed Al-Sayyid Bedouin Sign Language (ABSL), a community of 3,500 deaf and hearing people, revealing a distinct grammatical structure that establishes systematic relations among words. ABSL follows a Subject-Object-Verb order, differing from English and other languages in the region.
Researchers have discovered a long-sought protein called TRPA1 that converts sound into nerve impulses, transmitting to the brain. This breakthrough could lead to new treatments for deafness and balance disorders in the next five to ten years.
Researchers studying Nicaraguan Sign Language found that children give language its most fundamental features by learning it, contradicting theories of hard-wired blueprints. Children turn simple gestures into a true language through their own experimentation and improvement.
A three-year National Science Foundation grant funds a program to mentor deaf and hard of hearing students in state-of-the-art physics research at Tufts. Students from NTID and Gallaudet University participate in hands-on lab experience and classroom instruction.
Researchers found female patients with Wolfram syndrome have significantly worse hearing than male patients. The study also discovered that USH2a patients' hearing loss gradually deteriorates over time.
Researchers have discovered the role of cadherin 23 protein in the mechanotransduction process that converts sound waves into electrical signals. The study provides insights into Usher syndrome and age-related hearing loss, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for treating deafness.
Research by Susan Goldin-Meadow found that adults develop a syntax similar to deaf children's gesture systems when communicating through hand gestures. The study suggests that the order of gestures reflects a more fundamental property of human thought, independent of communication.
This year's Wakley Prize essays share personal reflections from doctors and patients in Peru, highlighting the struggle to tackle tuberculosis despite financial constraints. The essays reveal how poverty draws a line between life and death for many individuals.
A new mutation, R245X, has been identified as a significant cause of USH1 in the Ashkenazi Jewish population. Early diagnosis through molecular screening can lead to earlier intervention, including cochlear implants and ophthalmologic evaluations, improving the quality of life for affected children.
A new online library, Digital Library for Earth System Education (DLESE), provides deaf students with interactive and visual resources that cater to their unique needs. The library offers reliable and up-to-date information, reducing the learning gap between deaf and hearing students.
Researchers have identified a new human hearing loss gene, TMIE, in deaf mice, which may lead to the development of a screening test and therapy for families affected by inherited hearing loss. The discovery brings scientists closer to understanding the intricate choreography of genes and proteins involved in human hearing development.
A landmark study published in Nature reveals that deaf and hearing adults who experienced language in early life perform similarly well in learning a new language later in life. Deaf adults with little language experience show low levels of performance, whereas those with early experience demonstrate high proficiency.
Researchers found that deaf people's brains process vibrations in the same part of the brain as sound, leading to a similar musical experience. This discovery challenges the long-held belief that brains are hardwired at birth and instead shows that our genes provide a developmental strategy for brain organization.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine found that cochlear implants improve quality of life and save $50,000+ over a child's lifetime. The study provides evidence that pediatric cochlear implantation is highly cost-effective from a societal perspective.
Researchers confirmed that one type of genetic mutation causes inherited profound deafness, while another does not. Genetic tests found 42% of individuals with moderate to profound congenital deafness had sequence variations in the GJB2 gene.
Scientists successfully used gene therapy to correct deafness in shaker-2 mice by identifying a recessive mutated gene responsible for the condition. The study's findings also revealed that the mutation affects a myosin enzyme involved in inner ear development, which is crucial for hearing.
Researchers successfully cloned a gene responsible for inherited deafness in a large extended family in Costa Rica, revealing insights into hearing mechanisms. The autosomal dominant gene DFNA1 causes progressive hearing loss between ages 6 and 20, with the mutation tracing back to a common ancestor in 1713.
A linguist documents the development of a sign language in Nicaraguan deaf children, revealing that early exposure to language is crucial for its emergence. The study confirms theories that language is an innate human trait with minimal input triggering expression.
Researchers found that mice without thyroid hormone receptor beta are deaf, even though they appear healthy. The study suggests that this gene controls hearing development, and its loss may cause human genetic forms of deafness.