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Chronic childhood ear infections delay language development

A new study from University of Florida scientists reveals that chronic ear infections can lead to deficits in auditory processing and language development in children years later. Children with multiple ear infections before three years old had smaller vocabularies and difficulty matching similar sounding words.

SourceUniversity of Florida·JournalInternational Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 3, 2024

Creating a blueprint for optimized ear tubes and other implantable fluid-transporting devices

Researchers have developed a new ear tube design that combines liquid-infused materials with optimized geometry to improve treatment outcomes for patients with ear infections. The design enables better performance and reduces complications such as impaired hearing and scarring of the eardrum.

SourceWyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard·JournalScience Translational Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 5, 2023

New study shows spiders use webs to extend their hearing

Researchers at Binghamton University discovered that orb-weaving spiders use their webs as extended auditory arrays to capture sounds, allowing them to detect prey and predators. The study found that the spiders can respond to sound levels as low as 68 decibels and localize sound sources with 100% accuracy.

SourceBinghamton University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 29, 2022

New imaging tool captures how sound moves through the chinchilla ear

Researchers developed an OCT-based imaging tool to visualize how sound-induced vibrations travel through the ear. The technology provides new insight into hearing and could inform diagnosis and treatment of hearing problems. The instrument measures tiny vibrations within the ear, allowing for precise measurements at over 10,000 points.

SourceOptica·JournalBiomedical Optics Express·DateOct 17, 2018

When the eyes move, the eardrums move, too

Researchers at Duke University discovered that moving the eyes triggers vibrations in the eardrums, even without sound. This finding provides new understanding of how the brain coordinates visual and auditory information.

SourceDuke University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 23, 2018

Look mom, no eardrums!

The eardrum evolved independently in mammals and diapsids, depending on lower jaw formation in mammals and upper jaw development in diapsids. The study used developmental biology techniques to overcome the lack of fossil evidence for eardrum evolution.

SourceRIKEN·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 22, 2015

A middle-ear microphone

Researchers have created a tiny, prototype middle-ear microphone that can be implanted in the ear to avoid problems with current cochlear implants. The device has been successfully tested in cadavers and aims to reduce size and improve sound detection abilities for future human testing.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalIEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering·DateApr 29, 2012

Sound safety

Engineers at Asius Technologies create a device that seals the ear canal, boosting sound pressures and alleviating listener fatigue. The technology uses a sacrificial membrane to absorb pressure waves, protecting the ear drum and preventing over-activation of the acoustic reflex.

Ear tubes appear safe for children with cochlear implants

A study found that ear tubes do not increase the risk of complications in children with cochlear implants. The authors suggest that ear tube management does not adversely affect outcomes in pediatric ears. The study included 78 ears from 62 children, with no cases of meningitis or removal of cochlear implants due to infection.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalArchives of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery·DateJun 21, 2010

Ultrasonic frogs can tune their ears to different frequencies

Researchers discovered an unusual frog species that can actively select sound frequencies, tuning in to specific sounds like a radio. The 'Odorrana tormota' frog's eardrums respond differently depending on the Eustachian tubes' opening state, allowing it to filter out background noise and focus on ultrasonic calls.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 21, 2008