People With Unilateral Deafness Will Benefit From These Glasses
They Use Bone Conduction
A startup has designed smart glasses that not only provide a better vision but also enhance hearing for single-sided deafness, also called unilateral deafness. The glasses have a microphone that detects the sound and a microprocessor converts it to vibrations sent via bone conduction to the side of the impaired ear. It is less intrusive than a hearing aid. Click here for more info.
New Treatment For Tinnitus Teaches The Brain To Ignore The Tinnitus Sounds
It Influences The Brain To Become Familiar With The Sounds
There is a new therapy for patients with tinnitus. Some patients try to mask the sound using fans, white noise machines, with no success. A new therapy trains the brain to ignore the ringing, making the tinnitus sound more tolerable. The technology emits a sound similar to the patient’s tinnitus, on an iPod, for 90 nights. This influences the brain to become familiar with the sound. The treatment is done at night because the brain becomes more receptive to changes. Additional info click here.
Learning About Meniere’s Disease
Meniere’s disease is a condition related to excess fluid in the inner ear, causing the membrane to rupture. The result in vertigo, tinnitus and hearing loss, increasing the risk of accidents. The initial treatment consists of a diet to eliminate the excess fluid in the inner ear. More info click here.
Researchers Are Working On Brain Implants For People With Deafness Or Blindness
It Will Stimulate Specific Neurons With Tiny Electrodes.
Current research is working on implants that will let people that suffer from blindness or deafness, to receive sensory information with the links from the brain to computers. The object is to stimulate specific neurons with tiny electrodes that will allow restoring speech for deaf or mute people. Another project seeks to interface with the visual cortex, creating a picture in the case of people with impaired vision. More Information click here.
Aging Causes These Changes In Sight And Hearing
As we age, a series of changes occur, in which the senses begin to degrade. In the case of vision, the muscles get weaker resulting in focusing problems, and other conditions appear, such as macular degeneration and cataracts. In the case of the ear, earwax accumulates more easily, the eardrum gets stiffer, and the neural system changes the sound process. More Information click here.
Why You Shouldn’t Remove Earwax
There is a common misconception that earwax is a sign of dirty ears. The truth is that it prevents water, insects, dirt and small particles from getting into the ear. It has also antimicrobial properties that prevent bacteria and fungi from causing an infection. More details click here.
New Treatment Based On Colored Light Reduces The Symptoms Of Migraine And Tinnitus
A new treatment based on colored lenses helps treat migraines and is also being used on patients with tinnitus. It consists of tiny lamps of a different color, and the patient can control the intensity of them. The initial study was made for patients with a migraine, which reduced the intensity of the pain. A number of them had also tinnitus, and also observed a reduction in the symptoms. The different colors distract the sensory area of the brain, reducing the tinnitus symptoms. Click here for more information.
Aging Population Has A Lower Tolerance To Sound
They Find Annoying Noisy Restaurants And Public Places
Some people note that restaurants and other public places are turning up the volume of the music. However, the cause may be a greater sensitivity to noise, as a result of age. One of the consequences of the aging process is a lower tolerance to sound. This is caused by a condition called presbycusis, which distorts certain sounds due to hearing deterioration. This lowers the perception of high frequencies and increases low frequencies. Additional information click here.
Staying Away From Everyday Sounds Will Help Preserve Hearing
Noises Over 140 Decibels Will Permanently Affect Hearing
Loud noise is the main cause of hearing loss. In some cases, it shows as everyday sounds that are difficult to prevent. Sound over 120 decibels or prolonged sound over 80 decibels will affect hearing. For example, among the noises between 110 and 140 decibels are firecrackers, ambulance sirens and chainsaw – note that it only takes one minute of exposure for permanent hearing loss. Also, sounds between 85 and 110 decibels include a garbage truck, power mower, and a motorcycle. The safe range is below 75 decibels. More Information click here.
Study: Paracetamol Painkiller Can Increase The Risk Of Hearing Loss
Paracetamol is a widely used painkiller. However, a recent study has shown that increased and frequent use can also increase the risk of hearing loss. On the other hand, patients who used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) presented fewer cases of hearing loss. Additional information click here.
Frequent Use Of Magnetic Resonance Scanners (MRI) Increases The Risk Of Hearing Loss
More Powerful Models Have More Magnetism, But Also Generate Higher Noise
Magnetic resonance imaging has given physicians the possibility of visualizing the brain, spinal cord, and other body parts, allowing an early diagnosis of serious conditions. However, it has a downside for the patient, and it is the noise of the modern scanners can reach a peak sound of 125.7 to 130.7 dB, with an average between 110 to 115 dB. This sound level can result in tinnitus and noise-induced hearing loss. MRI scanners with a higher level of magnetism have a higher noise level. Also, the scanners generate low-frequency sounds, less than 1 kHz, which have less risk of hearing impairment than higher frequency sounds, higher than 4 kHz. In these cases, the suggestion is to wear earplugs to attenuate the sound. More Information click here.
This Mobile App Allows Conversations No Matter The Background Noise
It Amplifies The Sound, But Also Filters The Surrounding Noise, Providing Speech Clarity
This free app allows making the sound clear on a conversation, which amplifies the sound but also takes care of background noise. Sound does not feel metallic or unnatural and does not require weeks of training. Users can have speech clarity in one-to-one or group conversations, no matter the level of background noise. More Information click here.
Meditation Can Help As A Treatment For Tinnitus
It Will Clear Your Mind And Makes Tinnitus Episodes Less Noticeable
Tinnitus can be a real annoyance. One of the ways to treat it is through meditation. It seems easy, but it required practice to clear your thoughts. Among the rules are no moving, and no scratching. The scratch discomfort will eventually go away. The hardest rule is not interacting with the thoughts. These will appear, but it is important to find a way to not to interact with them, such as counting the breaths. This also works if you notice that your mind is wandering and want to clear your thoughts. The tinnitus episodes might appear during the meditation sessions, but after some time they will be less noticeable. Eventually, the body begins to anticipate the tinnitus episodes, and you will be able to prevent them with the meditation session. Additional details click here.
Diabetes Increases Risk Of Hearing Loss
Diabetes cases have increased due to the modern diet, lack of sleep and physical activity, and poor lifestyle choices, leading to insulin resistance. Also, other conditions related to diabetes, such as poor control of blood sugar, hypertension and blood lipids, can cause a blockage in the tiny blood vessels in the inner ear, resulting in hearing loss. More Information click here.
Staying Away From Everyday Sounds Will Help Preserve Hearing
Noises Over 140 Decibels Will Permanently Affect Hearing
Loud noise is the main cause of hearing loss. In some cases, it shows as everyday sounds that are difficult to prevent. Sound over 120 decibels or prolonged sound over 80 decibels will affect hearing. For example, among the noises between 110 and 140 decibels are firecrackers, ambulance sirens and chainsaw – note that it only takes one minute of exposure for permanent hearing loss. Also, sounds between 85 and 110 decibels include a garbage truck, power mower, and a motorcycle. The safe range is below 75 decibels. More Information click here.
The Ear Can Help Diagnose Several Health Conditions
It Can Even Inform If There Are Kidney Problems Or Heart Disease
The ears can provide a diagnosis over your health. If it is dipping out earwax, there could be some infection or ear disease. The same condition applies if the ears are itchy of if the earwax smells bad – just take note that earwax is odorless in a healthy ear. It can also inform about other organs. If the ear has an unusual shape or if it has a bump on the inner side of the ears, there could be a kidney problem. Also, if there is a diagonal crease in the earlobe, called the Frank Sign, there could be heart disease. Additional details click here.
Which Headphones Reduce The Risk Of Hearing Loss?
Are earbuds worse than over-the-ear headphones? The only important factor is volume, and a loud sound may cause a hearing injury. Listening to music at a high volume for a long time can lead to nerve damage. So the best is to use medium or low volume, which works better with noise-isolating headphones. More Information click here.
Dementia Can Be Caused By Untreated Hearing Loss
Untreated hearing loss can affect other parts of the body. According to experts, the hearing process is 10 percent ear and 90 percent brain. In hearing loss, the brain does not get enough input and it starts to shut down the areas that deal with hearing, like muscle atrophy. This will eventually result in dementia. More info click here.
Trouble Hearing Conversations? This Might Be The Cause
Some older people have trouble listening to a conversation in noisy environments. However, audiology tests show no signs of hearing loss. According to a recent study, the reason might be an imbalance in neural processes in the brain. Additional details click here.
25% Of Adults Have Some Type Of Gradual Hearing Loss And Are Not Aware Of It
A study revealed that 25% of adults have some degree of hearing loss, but are not aware of it. This is because hearing loss is a condition that shows up gradually, and patients go to the doctor when the condition is severe or evident. In other cases, the patient loses the ability to hear high frequencies, such as the sounds made by the letters S, Z, or TH, and has trouble understanding a conversation. More Information click here.
Certain Tumor Growths Can Affect The Auditory Nerve
Apart from exposure to loud noises and injuries, hearing loss can also be caused by tumors that appear on the auditory nerve. These are very difficult to extract and there is a high risk of hearing loss. A research team suggests that it can be caused by certain sequences of DNA that activate these tumor growths. Additional information click here.
Study: Tinnitus Related To Anxiety
A research has found a relationship between anxiety and tinnitus in children. One of the conclusions is that, even if tinnitus is difficult to treat, taking care of anxiety makes it more treatable. Additional info click here.
Unusual Effects Of Stress On Sleeping, Hearing And Hair Growth
Stress leads to sweating, hypertension and a racing heart. But there are also little-known effects. One of them is hair loss, in which stress forces hair follicles into resting, or contributes to hair pulling. Another one is vivid or bad dreams, and in some cases, sleep paralysis. Diarrhea and IBS can be also caused by stress, and also muffled hearing. Additional information click here.
This Software Evaluates And Personalizes The User’s Hearing Ability
It Compensates The Frequencies Difficult To Hear
There is an app that analyzes the user’s personal hearing ability and personalizes the sound to compensate it. This is not only oriented to people with gradual hearing loss, but to any person that is unaware that they have a slight hearing loss, which does not interfere with his daily activities nor his communication with other persons. This is great news, considering that 2.5% of the people suffer from untreated hearing loss, and one-third of them are under 35 years. The app first evaluates the frequency perception level of the user. This means, which frequencies are best and are worst heard, similar to an audiologist exam. This personalizes the software for the user. Also, the app can be integrated into several audio platforms. More info click here.
Diabetics Have Double The Risk Of Getting Hearing Loss
Diabetics have twice the risk of having hearing loss. The reason might be that the high glucose levels damage the tiny blood vessels inside the ears, in a similar way diabetes damages the eyes and ears. More info click here.
Dangers Of Bleeding From The Ear And Other Parts Of The Body
Bleeding from the ear can mean that an insect has entered the ear canal. Inserting a finger to remove it is not convenient since it might sting to protest itself. Check the causes and dangers of bleeding from other parts of the body, including genitals, rectum, eyes, nose, and mouth. Additional details click here.
Hearing Loss Is A Disability That Can Affect Personal Safety
Many people with hearing loss are more exposed because they cannot hear a fire alarm. This is the same for sirens in police cars, ambulances, and firetrucks. It can be worse if someone near is calling for help. The solution is having fitted a hearing aid. More Information click here.
Researchers Have Discovered A Way To Replace Damaged Hair Cells In The Inner Ear
One of the types of hearing loss involves the hair cells in the inner ear, which detect the vibrations and transmit them to the nerves. Once these hair cells are damaged, they cannot repair themselves or regenerate. For this reason, it is said that hearing loss is permanent. However, researchers have found a way to replace these damaged hair cells via a molecule that activates the regeneration process. Click here for more information.
What Is Surfer’s Ear?
Most surfing injuries are related to muscles or dislocations. But there is also one called exostosis, also known as surfer’s ear that can cause pain and even hearing loss. It is caused by the exposure to cold water. The body responds by growing bone in the ear canal. What to do about it? Click here for more information.
Hearing Loss Can Be Caused By Prolonged Use Of Painkillers In Women
Painkillers have been related to unwanted side effects and risk of addiction. Now, a study links the prolonged use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) or acetaminophen to hearing loss in women. The study related use of aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen, to hearing loss, but not aspirin. More Information click here.
Smoking During Pregnancy Can Result In Children With Hearing Problems
Second-Hand Smoke Can Also Affect The Babies’ Hearing
According to a study, children who had exposition to cigarettes during the first four months of their lives, increase the risk of suffering hearing impairment 2.4 times. Also, children exposed to second-hand smoke as newborns increase the risk of deafness by 30% percent, and women who smoked while expecting have a 26% to have children with hearing difficulties. Other studies suggest that nicotine affects chemical messengers in the nerve that informs the brain what sound it is hearing. Other hazards of smoking or being exposed to second-hand smoke while expecting to include more complications in pregnancy and birth, premature or underweight babies, among others. More details click here.
Researchers Are Working On Brain Implants For People With Deafness Or Blindness
It Will Stimulate Specific Neurons With Tiny Electrodes.
Current research is working on implants that will let people that suffer from blindness or deafness, to receive sensory information with the links from the brain to computers. The object is to stimulate specific neurons with tiny electrodes that will allow restoring speech for deaf or mute people. Another project seeks to interface with the visual cortex, creating a picture in the case of people with impaired vision. More Information click here.
Earwax Can Help Diagnose Certain Health Conditions
Ear wax can reveal certain health conditions related to hearing. However, first of all, we want to insist on NOT using Q-Tips for removing earwax, because it can affect the eardrums. That said, watery and green earwax is associated with excess sweating, but watery and dark yellow can be a sign of infection, together with a strong odor. Additional info click here.
Understanding Speech In Noisy Environments
Hearing aids are oriented to amplify the sounds and frequencies of the human voice, allowing the wearer to understand a conversation. However, this can be difficult in a noisy environment. Researchers have developed a method to predict intelligibility in noisy backgrounds, which might assist the development of hearing aids. More info click here.
There Are Different Types Of Hearing Loss
There are two types of hearing loss. The first one is related to the tympanum and the bones that conduct sound in the middle ear, and any disease or condition that affects it. The second is called sensorineural hearing loss and is related to the inner ear and complications with the auditory nerve. More info click here.
Protect Your Hearing Following This Advice
Most of us take hearing for granted. However, the proliferation of earbuds among younger people allows high volume music for extended periods of time, resulting in a progressive hearing loss. There are some ways to avoid hearing loss. The first one and more logical is lowering the volume. Also, controlling blood pressure and high blood sugar, since they are related to hearing loss. Check the full list. Additional info click here.
Trouble Hearing Conversations? This Might Be The Cause
Some older people have trouble listening to a conversation in noisy environments. However, audiology tests show no signs of hearing loss. According to a recent study, the reason might be an imbalance in neural processes in the brain. Additional details click here.
Snoring Related To Skull Thinning And Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak
Symptoms Are A Strong Headache, Neck Pain, Tinnitus, And Even Coma
Researchers have found a correlation between snoring and a thinner skull. The thinning is up to 1.23 mm, however, a skull erosion of 1mm can cause a spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leak (sCSF-L). This allows the liquid that serves as a cushion to the brain and spinal cord to flow away by the eroded area. The result can be life-threatening, including coma, stroke, and symptoms of dementia. This serious condition is also associated with obesity. The causes are not clear. The main symptom is a headache that gets more severe when upright and lying down. Other symptoms are neck pain, light or sound sensitivity, tinnitus, hearing changes, among others. More info click here.
The Ear Can Help Diagnose Several Health Conditions
It Can Even Inform If There Are Kidney Problems Or Heart Disease
The ears can provide a diagnosis over your health. If it is dipping out earwax, there could be some infection or ear disease. The same condition applies if the ears are itchy of if the earwax smells bad – just take note that earwax is odorless in a healthy ear. It can also inform about other organs. If the ear has an unusual shape or if it has a bump on the inner side of the ears, there could be a kidney problem. Also, if there is a diagonal crease in the earlobe, called the Frank Sign, there could be heart disease. Additional details click here.
Electro-Acupuncture Treatment For Tinnitus Increases Circulation In The Hearing System
A study in China has shown improvement in tinnitus patients by the use of electro-acupuncture. While traditional acupuncture had 65% effectiveness, electro-acupuncture has 90% effectiveness. According to the researchers, it reduces tinnitus, benefits the ears and increases conduction n the auditory nerve. This is because the electrical pulses create rhythmic contractions of the muscles in the ear region. This promotes circulation and nutrient delivery to the hearing system. Click here for more info.
Stress Can Cause Hearing Loss And Tinnitus
Stressful Situations Secrete A Hormone That Restricts Blood Flow, Affecting Hair Cells In The Inner Ear
Stress works as a defense mechanism for us. The body produces a hormone called cortisol, which, in imminent danger, puts the body in a fight-or-flight state, narrowing the blood vessels to divert the blood to the muscles. The problem occurs with chronic stress, in which the body is frequently producing this hormone. Constant exposure to it also affects the organs. Since cortisol restricts circulation, it also affects hearing, because the hair cells on the inner ear depend on a proper circulation to work correctly, converting vibration into electrical impulses. There are different types of hair cells, each tuned for a different frequency, so if one is damaged, the ability to hear the corresponding will be affected. Stress and hypertension also cause pulsatile tinnitus, in which the person hears a noise that pulsates with the heartbeat. More Information click here.
Chemotherapy Could Stop Affecting Hearing Loss In Cancer Patients
Cancer is not only a life-threatening disease, but its treatment affects seriously the quality of life of the patient. Chemotherapy originates from hair loss, but it also has hearing loss as a side effect. Now researchers have found a way no minimize hearing loss. Additional information click here.
A Huge Percentage Of The Aging Population Will Have Hearing Problems
However, Hearing Aid Technology Is Also Becoming More Affordable
According to specialists, the number of aging adults with hearing loss that is expected to increase dramatically. One-third of the people of 65 to 74 years have hearing loss, and this condition also occurs in nearly half of people older than 75. However, there are advances in the technology of hearing aids. These devices might be similar to prosthetics – they wonk feel right at first because the sounds will be different. The mind must get accustomed to the new sounds. Also, hearing aids not only allow people to hear the world around them but also communicate with each other. Another advantage is that hearing aids are becoming less expensive. Additional details click here.
Sudden Hearing Loss May Be Caused By Poor Blood Irrigation In The Hearing Organs
If Not Treated Immediately, It Can Become Permanent
Hearing loss usually happens gradually as one age. However, there are cases in which it occurs suddenly. If not treated immediately, or misdiagnosed, hearing loss may become permanent. According to specialists, the first step is getting an audiogram. In some cases, blood is not flowing correctly to the ear. More Information click here.
Diabetes Increases Risk Of Hearing Loss
Diabetes cases have increased due to the modern diet, lack of sleep and physical activity, and poor lifestyle choices, leading to insulin resistance. Also, other conditions related to diabetes, such as poor control of blood sugar, hypertension and blood lipids, can cause a blockage in the tiny blood vessels in the inner ear, resulting in hearing loss. More Information click here.
Cochlear Implants Benefit Patients With Severe Hearing Loss
They Provide A Representation Of The Sound That Helps Understand Speech
Hearing aids can help patients with a certain degree of hearing loss. However, there are cases hearing loss is so severe that these devices are not helping anymore. In these cases, the solution is a cochlear implant. These do not restore hearing, but it provides deaf patients a representation of the sound that allows them to understand speech. Additional details click here.
Firearm Suppressors Are A Better Choice To Reduce Ear Damage Caused By Gunfire
Gunfire has a sound intensity from 140 to 170 decibels, enough to cause permanent hearing loss. People believe that foam earplugs are enough to protect the ears, but doctors are recommending firearm suppressors. Foam plugs reduce the blast sound by 20 to 30 decibels, while suppressors reduce it by 30 decibels and also protect from the impulse pressure. Additional information click here.
Low Blood Pressure May Cause Fainting, Lightheadedness, And Dizziness
It Lowers The Oxygen Supply To The Brain
Low blood pressure is not as dangerous as high blood pressure, but it must be treated. This occurs when the blood pressure is lower than normal, 90/60 mmHg or less. Among the symptoms are lightheadedness and dizziness, especially when standing up, which is also called postural hypotension, and also fainting, because low pressure might lead to a deficient supply of oxygen to the brain. Other symptoms are feeling sick, having a blurred vision, and confusion. Additional information click here.
New Tinnitus Treatment Based On Music Therapy
There is a new treatment for tinnitus based on music therapy, which retrains the brain to accept a “new normal” that includes the humming sound. It uses tone sequencing to adjust to the internal sound and lessen the sensitivity to the frequency. More info click here.
This Mobile App Allows Conversations No Matter The Background Noise
It Amplifies The Sound, But Also Filters The Surrounding Noise, Providing Speech Clarity
This free app allows making the sound clear on a conversation, which amplifies the sound but also takes care of background noise. Sound does not feel metallic or unnatural and does not require weeks of training. Users can have speech clarity in one-to-one or group conversations, no matter the level of background noise. More Information click here.
Out-Of-Body Experiences May Be Caused By A Condition In The Inner Ear
The Balance Organ Send Mixed Signals To The Brain
Vestibular disorders involve the inner ear and are specifically related to the structures that provide the brain with the sensation of balance and spatial orientation. The most common problem is dizziness and lack of balance, but it can also be a floating sensation. This has happened to patients with recurrent vertigo or with tinnitus. The floating sensation is perceived as an out-of-body experience. Patients in motion, such as driving or accelerating a car, may have these experiences because the vestibular system is sending mixed signals to their brains. More Information click here.
A Sore Throat Can Also Affect The Ears Causing Headache And Even Hearing Loss
Among The Causes Are A Bacterial Infection, Tonsillitis, Sinusitis, And Even Tooth Infection
A sore throat can also cause ear pain because the nerves in the back of the throat are located near the nerves from the ear, the throat pain often radiates to one or both ears. Also, the ears communicate with the throat via the Eustachian tube, which can transmit bacteria or swell, increasing the pressure of the ear. the infection can originate in the ear, in the form of otitis media, or even in the ear canal, which can become moist, promoting the growth of bacteria. Symptoms are a sore throat, headache, earache, and hearing loss. Other conditions to throat inflammation are related to the tonsils and bacterial infections. The sinuses an also affect the throat and ears, due to sinusitis and allergies. Additional causes are related to oral health in the form of a tooth abscess, which is a pocket of pus grows at the root’s tip of the tooth, causing a severe pain that radiates to the jawbone and ear. Check all the causes of a sore throat and how it can affect the ears. More Information click here.
Suffering From Vertigo? Check This New Technique
It Involves Head Movements Depending On Which Ear Is Affected
Vertigo is a sensation that everything is turning around and affects the balance organs. It can be originated in the brain or spinal cord, or it can be related only to the inner ear. The causes can me Meniere’s disease, which is fluid buildup inside the inner ear, head injuries, and stroke among others. In some cases, one must stand still until the sensation passes. However, there is a technique that has become viral that can help with it. It involves certain head movements depending on which ear is affected. Check the details. Additional info click here.
These Headphones Have Extra Protection To Prevent Hearing Loss
Loud noise is the main reason for hearing loss, and it is more frequent with people who listen to music at high volume. There is no headphone that has a protective membrane between the speaker and the eardrum, protecting from hearing loss. More here Additional information click here.
Blocking A Brain Chemical May Reverse The Aging Of The Brain, Improving Hearing
Researchers Use Drugs Or Genetic Tools
One of the consequences of old age is gradual hearing loss, and the assumption was that, as the brain ages, its ability to distinguish sounds declines. However, researchers have discovered that the levels of the chemical adenosine, which is responsible for sensory processing, increase in older mice. They have found a way to decrease this level using drugs of genetic tools, thus, reversing an old brain. By blocking adenosine, the number of neurons that respond to sound increases. This process, called neuroplasticity, can be used to stroke or tinnitus patients. Additional information click here.
Headphones With Sound-Limiting Devices Not Completely Safe For Kids
Hearing Conditions Are Affected By Exposure To Loud Music And Sounds And Time Of Exposure
Many headphones are being marketed as “child-friendly”, which considers that it limits the loudness of the music. However, hearing loss is caused by the exposure to loud music or sounds and the time of the exposure. Statistics say that kids are listening to music 7 hours per day. This is critical in children because hearing loss can affect language and speech development. On the other hand, many headphones advertised with a sound-limiting mechanism, actually allow listening to music at higher volume. Additional info click here.
OTC Hearing Aids Will Be Less Expensive And Communicate With A Smartphone
Hearing aids are still expensive for the majority of hearing loss patients. However, a new breed of devices is on its way, which will be sold over-the-counter at a cheaper price, and can communicate with smartphones or tablets, and auto adjust themselves. Click here for more information.
What Is Hidden Hearing Loss?
Exposure To Loud Noises Can Affect The Ability To Recognize Words Over A Noisy Background
Exposure to loud sounds can affect the circuits between the sensory hair cells in the inner ear and the areas which deliver information to the brain. This type of damage is difficult to detect via conventional tests and is called hidden hearing loss. Researchers measured hearing and speech abilities before and after attending a venue with loud music, such as clubs or music festivals. They found that hearing loss was temporary. However, when conducting speech recognition tests with background noise, participants were less able to recognize the speech. More Information click here.
Healthy Tips On Using White Noise Machines For Babies
Using Them Too Near The Baby’s Bed Can Cause Hearing Issues
Many parents use white noise machines to keep their babies asleep. However, setting the machine too close to the baby’s bed can affect the hearing, because volume might be too high. Also, it is a good idea to turn off the machine once the baby is asleep – leaving it on for hours can cause hearing damage. More info click here.
New Hearing Loss Treatments With Gels And Gene Therapy
Hearing loss and certain types of tinnitus were considered as irreversible. Now pharmaceutical companies are testing treatments to cure it via gels and gene therapy. Hearing loss occurs when the hair cells located in the cochlea or the nerves associated with them are damaged. Gels are injected through the eardrum to reach these cells. More info click here.
Researchers Have Discovered A Way To Replace Damaged Hair Cells In The Inner Ear
One of the types of hearing loss involves the hair cells in the inner ear, which detect the vibrations and transmit them to the nerves. Once these hair cells are damaged, they cannot repair themselves or regenerate. For this reason, it is said that hearing loss is permanent. However, researchers have found a way to replace these damaged hair cells via a molecule that activates the regeneration process. Click here for more information.
OTC Hearing Aids Are Not A Good Idea
There Are Amplification Devices That May Get Hearing Loss Even Worse
There is an interest in the United States to offer hearing aids over the counter (OTC). However, there are already devices for sound amplification sold in electronics stores and work perfectly for birdwatching or even eavesdropping. On the other hand, hearing aids are tailored for a patient, considering the type and severity of hearing loss. There have been cases that hearing gets worse if an amplification device is used. More Information click here.
What Is Surfer’s Ear?
Most surfing injuries are related to muscles or dislocations. But there is also one called exostosis, also known as surfer’s ear that can cause pain and even hearing loss. It is caused by the exposure to cold water. The body responds by growing bone in the ear canal. What to do about it? Click here for more information.
New Treatment For Tinnitus Teaches The Brain To Ignore The Tinnitus Sounds
It Influences The Brain To Become Familiar With The Sounds
There is a new therapy for patients with tinnitus. Some patients try to mask the sound using fans, white noise machines, with no success. A new therapy trains the brain to ignore the ringing, making the tinnitus sound more tolerable. The technology emits a sound similar to the patient’s tinnitus, on an iPod, for 90 nights. This influences the brain to become familiar with the sound. The treatment is done at night because the brain becomes more receptive to changes. Additional info click here.
What Is Surfer’s Ear?
Most surfing injuries are related to muscles or dislocations. But there is also one called exostosis, also known as surfer’s ear that can cause pain and even hearing loss. It is caused by the exposure to cold water. The body responds by growing bone in the ear canal. What to do about it? Click here for more information.
Out-Of-Body Experiences May Be Caused By A Condition In The Inner Ear
The Balance Organ Send Mixed Signals To The Brain
Vestibular disorders involve the inner ear and are specifically related to the structures that provide the brain with the sensation of balance and spatial orientation. The most common problem is dizziness and lack of balance, but it can also be a floating sensation. This has happened to patients with recurrent vertigo or with tinnitus. The floating sensation is perceived as an out-of-body experience. Patients in motion, such as driving or accelerating a car, may have these experiences because the vestibular system is sending mixed signals to their brains. More Information click here.
These Earplugs Will Protect From Loud Sound Exposure
The most common type of hearing loss is sensorineural, in which the hair receptors are not as sensitive as they were originally, and it is not reversible. This can come naturally by age or by exposure to loud sounds. Fortunately, there are several devices that will protect your hearing, such as custom earplugs with noise filters that allow conversations but block high volumes. More details click here.
New Tinnitus Treatment Based On Music Therapy
There is a new treatment for tinnitus based on music therapy, which retrains the brain to accept a “new normal” that includes the humming sound. It uses tone sequencing to adjust to the internal sound and lessen the sensitivity to the frequency. More info click here.
Hearing Loss Results In A Constant Effort To Understand And Process The Words
People suffering from hearing loss are always making an effort to understand and process correctly the words and sounds. This can lead to listening fatigue, which affects productivity, the ability to concentrate, increasing the risks of accidents, and reducing the ability to communicate, among others. This can be avoided with hearing aids. Additional info click here.
New Gene Therapy For Hearing And Balance Disorders
It Will Help People With Hereditary Hearing Loss
New research might be helpful for people with the Usher syndrome, a genetic condition that includes partial or total hearing loss, dizziness and vision loss that worsens over time. It is caused by abnormalities in the inner ear. Hearing loss and dizziness are among the main disabilities, and can be severe and debilitating. The research consists of a treatment based on gene therapy on mice, which restored their balance an improved their hearing. It will help people with hereditary hearing loss. More Information click here.
Risks Of Using Q-Tips To Clean Earwax
Man people clean earwax by using Q-Tips. This is a very bad idea. According to specialists, many eardrum injuries are caused by inserting Q-Tips or other objects in the ear to clean earwax. Perhaps one can be careful, but another person can move your arm or bump into you by accident. Also, inserting a small object in the ear canal can push even deeper the earwax, causing hearing loss. So, which is the correct way to clean earwax? More details click here.
Latest Research On Drugs For Treatment Of Hearing Loss And Tinnitus
Several companies are researching new ways to reverse hearing loss. One of them is working on a drug, and the procedure to deliver it in the inner ear. Other is working on a sustained release medication, and another is researching on the damage certain antibiotics do in the inner ear in order to protect it. More info click here.
In People Born Deaf, The Brain Reassigns The Auditory Area For Other Activities
A recent research has shown that, in the case of congenital deafness, the human brain compensates the condition by rewiring itself. This means that people born deaf do not have their auditory cortexes unused since the brain rewires itself and dedicates it to other activities. More info click here.
Risks Of Using Q-Tips To Clean Earwax
Man people clean earwax by using Q-Tips. This is a very bad idea. According to specialists, many eardrum injuries are caused by inserting Q-Tips or other objects in the ear to clean earwax. Perhaps one can be careful, but another person can move your arm or bump into you by accident. Also, inserting a small object in the ear canal can push even deeper the earwax, causing hearing loss. So, which is the correct way to clean earwax? More details click here.
Hearing Loss Could Misguide A Dementia Diagnosis
Studies are suggesting that tinnitus can be related to dementia. In the case of Alzheimer’s, the problem is that the patient does not remember recent conversations. However, the reason might be because he never heard the conversation because of tinnitus. The suggestion would be to have a hearing test on probable cases of dementia. Additional information click here.
Researchers Have Discovered A Way To Replace Damaged Hair Cells In The Inner Ear
One of the types of hearing loss involves the hair cells in the inner ear, which detect the vibrations and transmit them to the nerves. Once these hair cells are damaged, they cannot repair themselves or regenerate. For this reason, it is said that hearing loss is permanent. However, researchers have found a way to replace these damaged hair cells via a molecule that activates the regeneration process. Click here for more information.
Learning To Choose A Hearing Aid
Actual Devices Are Smaller And Can Have Functions For Background Noise Reduction
A hearing aid can help relieve the consequences of hearing loss, especially when it is age-related, which appears gradually, and affects the quality of living of the person, and its ability to communicate. However, there is a wide variety of hearing aids, and it can be difficult to select one without the help of a specialist. The actual devices are not bulky but hide behind the ear. They have also digital internal electronics, which sets the difference in operation, and price, allowing clear conversations. Also, modern hearing aids can interface with smartphones via Bluetooth, allowing them to get access to more functions, and listening to streaming devices, such as TVs, radio, or portable players. It may also have directional microphones to orient the conversation to the person in front of the user. More details click here.
Snoring Related To Skull Thinning And Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak
Symptoms Are A Strong Headache, Neck Pain, Tinnitus, And Even Coma
Researchers have found a correlation between snoring and a thinner skull. The thinning is up to 1.23 mm, however, a skull erosion of 1mm can cause a spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leak (sCSF-L). This allows the liquid that serves as a cushion to the brain and spinal cord to flow away by the eroded area. The result can be life-threatening, including coma, stroke, and symptoms of dementia. This serious condition is also associated with obesity. The causes are not clear. The main symptom is a headache that gets more severe when upright and lying down. Other symptoms are neck pain, light or sound sensitivity, tinnitus, hearing changes, among others. More info click here.
Vertigo Is The Main Cause Of Falls. How To Deal With It?
Among elder people, falls are the main cause of injuries and accidental deaths. One of the main causes is dizziness or vertigo, which increases the risk of falling by 13. Vertigo is caused by an imbalance in the inner ear and the nervous system. If you have vertigo, learn the safety measures to prevent falls. More Information click here.
What Are The Types Of Hearing Loss?
People must be aware if one family member begins showing signs of hearing loss. In order to understand more this condition, let’s review the types of hearing conditions. The conductive type is related to the outer ear, ear canal or middle ear. An example is earwax blockage, a perforated eardrum, among others. These can be corrected surgically. The sensorineural type is related to the inner ear or auditory nerve. These can include balance problems and tend to be permanent. Check all the types. More Information click here.
Study: Tinnitus Related To Anxiety
A research has found a relationship between anxiety and tinnitus in children. One of the conclusions is that, even if tinnitus is difficult to treat, taking care of anxiety makes it more treatable. Additional info click here.
Living In A Big City Can Expose Your Body To Noise Pollution
Extended Exposure Can Affect Your Mental And Physical Health
In a big city, most people dot realize the noise pollution created by car horns, construction noises and loud music among others. These noises can be nonstop and we tend not to pay attention to them. However, according to specialists, extended exposure to these continuous noises can have a negative effect on mental and physical health. These include heart damage, heart damage and hearing loss, caused by the stress reaction to these loud sounds, which can end in chronic anxiety. This can be avoided with fewer notifications from the phone, noise-canceling headphones, or just escaping to a silent out-of-town place. Click here for more information.
The Correct Way To Clean The Ears
Many people use Q-tips for cleaning their ears. However, this puts the delicate organs in danger, because of the possibility of a perforated tympanum. The suggestion from the medical point of view is: leave it, don’t clean it. The earwax, which protects the ear canal, cleans itself, so it’s not necessary to use other tools. More info click here.
Study: Hearing Loss Linked To Iron Deficiency Anemia
Study: iron deficiency anemia has been linked to hearing the loss in adults aged 21-90. It has been related to sensorineural hearing loss, in which there is damage to the cochlea or nerve pathways, and conductive hearing loss, which is caused by problems in the bones in the inner ear. More info click here.
High Volume On Headphones Might Result In Permanent Hearing Damage
We see kids and adults going everywhere with headphones or earbuds. The problem is that most are unaware that the volume intensity might cause hearing damage. One suggestion is to limit at 85 dB, which is the volume intensity of snowblower, lawnmower, a food blender, and average city traffic. Additional details click here.
Using Cotton Swabs To Clean The Ear Canal From Earwax Can Be Very Dangerous
Earwax Is A Self-Cleaning Agent And Its Excess Gets Cleaned While Taking A Shower
Many people use cotton swabs, also called Q-Tips, for cleaning their ears. However, this is a very bad idea. Instead of cleaning the wax from the ear canal, the swabs push the wax deeper into the ear, increasing the risk of eardrum damage. Also, the eardrum can get perforated if there is an accidental move. In fact, the earwax is a self-cleaning agent that moisturizes and the ear canal and protects the eardrum from bacteria and dirt. The excess earwax gets cleaned while taking a shower. Additional details click here.
New Treatment For Tinnitus Teaches The Brain To Ignore The Tinnitus Sounds
It Influences The Brain To Become Familiar With The Sounds
There is a new therapy for patients with tinnitus. Some patients try to mask the sound using fans, white noise machines, with no success. A new therapy trains the brain to ignore the ringing, making the tinnitus sound more tolerable. The technology emits a sound similar to the patient’s tinnitus, on an iPod, for 90 nights. This influences the brain to become familiar with the sound. The treatment is done at night because the brain becomes more receptive to changes. Additional info click here.
Early Hearing Loss Can Be Detected By This Innovative Test
Hearing loss is progressive. This means that it is difficult to detect at an early stage, or that the patient has not perceived any change in the hearing capacity. However, there is now a test that will detect hearing loss when there is normal hearing, or slightly less than normal. It is based on how the brain processes sound with both ears and listen in noisy environments. Additional details click here.
Exercise Improves Overall Health And Also Prevents Hearing Loss
We all agree that exercise is great for maintaining good health. However, it also improves hearing. A study showed that, when exercising, the hair cells and capillaries in the cochlea were lost at a much slower rate than in the case of not exercising. Click here for more info.
New Tinnitus Treatment Based On Music Therapy
There is a new treatment for tinnitus based on music therapy, which retrains the brain to accept a “new normal” that includes the humming sound. It uses tone sequencing to adjust to the internal sound and lessen the sensitivity to the frequency. More info click here.
Study: Potassium In Bananas Can Help Prevent Hearing Loss
Also, Zinc And Magnesium Are Fundamental For Preserving The Hearing Function
According to specialists, bananas can help prevent hearing loss. This is due to the potassium, which helps in the correct functioning of the inner ear, and the transmission of signals to the brain. There are other vitamins and minerals important for preventing hearing loss. Researchers have found that eh inner ear has the highest concentration of zinc in all the body, and its deficiency can result in tinnitus. Magnesium protects the ears against noise-induced hearing loss, which results from operating machinery without protection or listening to loud music. Click here for more info.
