Articles tagged with Hearing Loss
Researchers are focusing on the key hormone 'aldosterone' and developing unique sounds to treat age-related hearing loss (ARHL). Studies will investigate its effects on mice and humans, with goals of slowing or preventing ARHL progression through hormonal intervention and brain training.
Researchers at Columbia University are reengineering and simplifying music to make it more enjoyable for listeners with cochlear implants. By analyzing which parts of music are most important for listener enjoyment, they aim to develop software that can take original pieces and reconfigure them or allow users to engineer their own music.
A recent study found that hearing aids enhance working memory, selective attention, and processing speed in individuals with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. This improvement allows individuals to focus more efficiently and reduce cognitive fatigue.
Researchers identified 428 disease conditions that co-occur with FASD, including severe cases of hearing loss and impaired vision. The study underscores the importance of eliminating alcohol consumption during pregnancy to prevent these disabilities.
A new study reveals that people with lower tinnitus distress use different brain regions when processing emotional information. Patients who have adapted to their symptoms use more of the frontal lobe, a region critical for attention and impulse control.
The top 10 research priorities for tackling mild to moderate hearing loss include addressing aspects of hearing aid provision, with the majority concerned with improving treatment outcomes. The list aims to re-focus future studies on areas with the greatest potential impact in furthering understanding and developing successful treatments.
A new study reveals that chemotherapy-induced hearing loss in pediatric brain tumor survivors can lead to significant neurocognitive deficits, including intelligence, executive function, and verbal reasoning skills. Children who received radiation therapy and developed hearing loss are at particularly high-risk for these deficits.
Researchers found that babies with profound hearing loss who received cochlear implants soon babbled as often as their hearing peers, allowing them to catch up developmentally. Infants are actively engaged in their own developmental process and motivated by hearing their own sounds.
A study of 137 older adults found that hearing loss was linked to accelerated cognitive decline. However, participants who used hearing aids showed reduced declines in cognitive function over a 25-year period compared to those without hearing aids.
Researchers at Kobe University have developed a painless dermal monitoring method to detect neonatal jaundice in preterm infants. The study identified the optimal skin area for monitoring, allowing for continuous long-term tracking of bilirubin levels and reducing cases of cerebral palsy and hearing loss.
Researchers at TUM and Georgetown University have discovered a common gatekeeping system for tinnitus and chronic pain, which may play a central role in the development of both conditions. The study found significant loss of gray matter and compromised circuit function in regions important for emotional experiences.
Researchers have discovered that brain malfunctions in key areas, such as the nucleus accumbens and ventromedial prefrontal cortex, contribute to the development of tinnitus and chronic pain. These findings hold promise for developing targeted therapies for these debilitating disorders.
The American Academy of Otolaryngology will feature over 380 oral and poster presentations on various otolaryngic topics. Key findings include research on depression after hearing loss treatment and the correlation between pediatric sleep endoscopy and polysomnography.
A team from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine identified the molecular mechanisms behind resilience to tinnitus and a possible drug therapy that could reduce susceptibility. The study found that mice exposed to loud noise but not developing tinnitus show a transient reduction in KCNQ2/3 channel activity.
Studies show that hearing aid technology significantly lessens depression and anxiety, improving cognitive functioning. Hard of hearing people often struggle with invisible hearing difficulties, resisting treatment for years.
A simple nasal balloon procedure has been shown to be effective in reducing the impact of hearing loss in children with otitis media with effusion. The procedure involves autoinflation three times a day for 1 to 3 months, and has been found to improve middle-ear pressure and reduce symptoms in children aged 4 to 11 years.
A new treatment method using magnetic pulses has shown promise in reducing tinnitus symptoms for more than half of study participants. The treatment, known as transcranial magnetic stimulation, targets the auditory cortex in the brain and has been approved only for depression treatment.
A new drug, SF0034, selectively affects potassium channels in the brain to treat epilepsy and prevent tinnitus. It has shown promise in preventing seizures in animals and is being developed as a potential treatment for both conditions.
A graphic novel is being tested to educate Spanish-speaking agricultural workers about noise-induced hearing loss. The digital novella aims to improve knowledge and attitudes towards wearing hearing protection devices. The pilot study plans to assess the impact on 30-40 ag workers in Wyoming and Colorado.
A major new analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013 reveals that nearly 20 people in 100 worldwide had no health problems in 2013. Over 2.3 billion individuals experienced more than five ailments, with low back pain and depression ranking as top contributors to disability.
Nonfatal diseases and injuries are increasingly affecting global health, with back pain, depression, and mental disorders among the leading causes of years lived with disability. The study found that YLDs increased by 52% between 1990 and 2013, with population growth and aging contributing to the growing burden.
Grand Challenges Canada and Google.org fund two Canadian organizations to develop diagnostic kits and screen people in need of high-quality hearing aids. The initiatives aim to improve the lives of over 360 million people with hearing loss worldwide.
A new study reveals that tinnitus is represented differently in the brain compared to normal sounds, and that it may not be just a 'gap' left by hearing damage. The discovery could inform treatments such as neurofeedback and electromagnetic brain stimulation.
A recent genome-wide association study has found evidence that some people may be more genetically susceptible to noise-induced hearing loss. The study identified the Nox3 gene as a key gene for susceptibility to noise-induced hearing loss, which is a common workplace hazard.
Researchers at USF are developing a new treatment for age-related hearing loss (ARHL), a neurodegenerative condition affecting 10% of the population. The Phase II clinical trial aims to investigate the therapeutic potential of modulating potassium channels in the brain.
Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital identified genetic variations associated with rapid hearing loss in young cancer patients treated with cisplatin, a widely used anti-cancer drug. Variations in the ACYP2 gene increased the risk of hearing damage by four times.
Researchers found that nicotinamide riboside (NR) prevents noise-induced hearing loss by increasing the activity of protein sirtuin 3, which is critical for mitochondrial function. NR also showed promise in preventing long-term and short-term hearing loss, regardless of when it was administered.
A study found that Boston Marathon bombings resulted in over 100 cases of ear and hearing injuries, with 80% of patients experiencing reduced hearing and 68% new or worsened tinnitus one year later. Many had difficulty hearing in noisy situations and ongoing disability related to hearing loss, tinnitus, or dizziness.
A new therapy combining computer-based cognitive training and d-cycloserine has shown promise in helping patients with tinnitus better cope with the condition. The study found that patients who received the treatment experienced greater improvements in daily life compared to those who took a placebo.
A study by Penn State researchers found that subjective screening questions used in adolescent hearing screenings are unreliable and miss high-frequency hearing loss. Objective hearing tests were more effective, but refining them is necessary to accurately identify teenagers at risk for hearing loss.
The AAO-HNSF clinical practice guideline provides a framework for clinicians to differentiate between bothersome and nonbothersome tinnitus. The guideline's recommendations aim to mitigate the personal and social impact of tinnitus on patients, with approximately 20% requiring clinical intervention.
Consumption of two or more servings of fish per week was associated with a 20% lower risk of hearing loss in women. Higher intake of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) also showed an inverse association with the risk.
A recent study published in the American Journal of Medicine found that higher caffeine intake is associated with a lower incidence of tinnitus in younger and middle-aged women. Researchers tracked over 65,000 women for 18 years and discovered a significant inverse association between caffeine consumption and reported tinnitus cases.
People with tinnitus process emotions differently in the brain from those with normal hearing, according to a study led by University of Illinois professor Fatima Husain. The study found that patients with tinnitus showed more activity in two brain regions associated with emotion, while having lower activity in the amygdala.
A new study has identified several risk factors for Ménière's Disease, including female sex, white background, age, poverty, and overweight status. The research also found links to immune system disorders and diseases related to the autonomic nervous system.
The pharmaceutical industry is turning its attention to hearing loss, a condition affecting 36 million Americans. Researchers are developing potential therapies targeting the inner ear and central nervous system, with several drug candidates already advancing through clinical testing.
A six-year study of 400 individuals aged 80-98 found that those with hearing loss became less outgoing, while emotional stability remained constant. The researchers attribute this change to a decrease in social interaction quality, which can affect relationships and overall wellbeing.
Researchers at Penn State College of Medicine found that school hearing tests cannot effectively detect noise exposure-induced high-frequency hearing loss in adolescents. The tests primarily focus on low-frequency hearing loss and may not accurately identify hearing issues caused by prolonged exposure to loud noises.
Tinnitus affects millions of Americans, including veterans, and can be debilitating. Researchers at U-M have discovered a process called stimulus-timing dependent multisensory plasticity that is altered in animals with tinnitus. This finding provides a science-based approach to treating the condition.
A meta-analysis of 17 randomized controlled trials found rTMS to be a safe and effective treatment for auditory hallucinations in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Active rTMS may cause headaches and facial muscle twitching, but has no significant impact on cognitive function.
Higher body mass index (BMI) and larger waist circumference are associated with higher risk of hearing loss in women. Maintaining a healthy weight and engaging in regular physical activity can potentially delay or prevent hearing loss.
The review team found that long-term exposure to environmental noise affects the cardiovascular system, with connections to hypertension, ischemic heart diseases, and stroke. Noise also impacts sleep disturbance, children's cognition, and hospital settings.
A team of researchers led by Dr. Michel Cayouette identified a group of proteins crucial for shaping the cellular organ responsible for detecting sounds in the inner ear. These proteins play a key role in creating the V-shaped brush on sensory cells, which is critical for sound detection and orientation.
The use of stem cells, gene therapy, and neurotrophic factors has been shown to play a crucial role in the regeneration of inner ear hair cells. Cochlear gene therapy has also been successfully used in treating neurosensory hearing loss and other inner ear disorders.
Researchers at the University of Iowa used fruit flies to study hearing loss caused by loud noise. The study found that the molecular underpinnings of hearing loss in fruit flies are similar to those in humans.
Researchers found that excessive noise activates certain cells in the ear, causing them to detach and damage the blood barrier. A new compound, PEDF, shows promise in preventing this type of damage, offering hope for treating tinnitus and sound hypersensitivity.
A study in ferrets shows that the brain can adapt to temporary hearing loss by relying on spectral cues from the outer ear. The findings suggest new strategies for rehabilitating children with glue ear and improve hearing aid design.
A recent study published by The Laryngoscope journal found that obesity is associated with sensorineural hearing loss across all frequencies in adolescents, with almost twice the likelihood of unilateral low-frequency hearing loss compared to non-obese teens.
A new study has designed and tested a vestibular prosthesis to help restore balance in individuals with Meniere's disease. The prosthesis uses electrical stimulation to activate the vestibular nerve, aiming to alleviate symptoms such as vertigo and tinnitus. However, further research is needed to fine-tune the device for individual cal...
Adults with hearing loss are more likely to experience cardiovascular risk factors, have a history of hospitalization, and report poorer physical and mental health. The study found significant associations between hearing loss and various health outcomes, highlighting the need for further research into the basis of these observed assoc...
Researchers have discovered a novel genetic mutation in the SERPINB6 gene that causes malfunction of an inhibitor enzyme, leading to accelerated hearing loss. In humans, individuals with this mutation typically lose their hearing from 20 years of age, while mice with the condition start losing their hearing at three weeks old.
Researchers found a very high percentage of adult survivors with one or more chronic health conditions, including pulmonary, auditory, and cardiac dysfunction. The estimated cumulative prevalence of any chronic health condition was 95% by age 45 years.
A new study at UT Dallas is investigating whether hearing aids can improve balance and prevent falls in people with hearing impairments. The research project aims to identify individuals at risk of falling and evaluate the effects of different hearing aid technologies on balance and gait.
A study by Johns Hopkins Medicine found that older adults with hearing loss declined in cognitive abilities 30-40% faster than those with normal hearing. The study, involving 1,984 participants, suggests that hearing loss may be linked to social isolation and brain energy diversion.
A general practitioner shares her frustrating experience with a bureaucratic sickness benefit system. The system requires patients to wait on hold, answer lengthy questions, and provide multiple documents, which can be overwhelming for those who are already unwell.
Researchers evaluated MDHearingAid's acoustic properties and tested it on patients with mild to moderately-severe hearing loss. The study found the device to be electroacoustically adequate and a reasonable low-cost solution for those who cannot afford custom hearing aids.
A recent study found that frequent use of ibuprofen and acetaminophen is associated with an increased risk of hearing loss in women. The study, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, suggests that these pain-relieving medicines may reduce blood flow to the cochlea or deplete factors that protect it from damage.
The American College of Physicians recommends against routine screening for age-related hearing loss due to insufficient evidence on benefits and harms. For schizophrenia, there is little research to support the use of second-generation antipsychotics over first-generation drugs.
A new project aims to increase hearing aid use by providing easy-to-use video tutorials that address common barriers to adoption. The tutorials offer practical tips, animations, and real-life experiences from users to support patients in making the most of their devices.
Researchers found that a multidisciplinary approach combining cognitive behaviour therapy with sound-based tinnitus retraining therapy significantly improves quality of life and reduces symptoms in adults with tinnitus. The study recruited 492 adults and showed that the new treatment programme is beneficial for both mild and severe cases.