Archive 2010

December 22, 2010:

Another reason for age-related hearing loss is found

Researchers at the University of Florida and the University of Wisconsin have discovered that the protein Bak can be partially responsible for up to 50% of all over 65’s suffering from hearing loss.
Read more

December 20, 2010:

Temporary hearing deprivation can lead to ’lazy ear’

It is well-known by scientists that degraded sensory experience during childhood may cause ‘lazy eyes’. But an American study shows likewise that short-term hearing deprivation at an early age may result in ‘lazy ears’. Read more

December 13, 2010:

Army band members must protect their hearing

The ruling applies to all members of Corps of Army Music in Britain. Read more

December 9, 2010:

More than half with Chronic Kidney Disease have hearing loss

Severe hearing loss affects almost 30% of patients with Chronic Kidney Disease. Read more

December 6, 2010:

One in 20 school children has hearing loss in one ear

Hearing loss in one ear harms the ability to comprehend and use language. Read more

December 2, 2010:

Extremely dangerous noise levels at NASCAR races

Extensive research of NASCAR races in the U.S. shows noise levels up to 900 times higher than the allowable occupational daily noise dose. The researchers say that the damage to the hearing of those involved or watching the races can lead to hearing loss and tinnitus. Read more

November 29, 2010:

Infrasonics: the Silent Enemy

We cannot hear infrasonic waves, as these frequencies are under that, which the human ear can pick up. Despite this, these sounds can pose a great risk to our hearing and our health. Read more

November 24, 2010:

Men More Likely to Suffer Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

TV and radio, airplanes and traffic jams - the soundtrack of life is, at times, too loud. New research suggests men need to be more careful about keeping the volume down. Read more

November 18, 2010:

Early treatment hope for tinnitus

Research has indicated that tinnitus might be treatable soon after its onset, at least temporarily. Read more

November 15, 2010:

Rock your senses

As a deaf or hearing impaired person, it can be difficult to experience the rushes and rhythms of a musical event. That is something the Dutch project group Skyway Foundation have changed. What seemed like an impossible mission has been made very much a reality — to create musical events for the hearing impaired. They call the event “Sencity”. Read more

November 10, 2010:

Even minor hearing loss can effect a child’s ability to learn

Paediatric literature demonstrates that even children with "minimal" hearing loss are at risk academically compared to their normal hearing peers. If parents and school teachers do not take children with reduced hearing into consideration, it can lead to social, emotional and learning difficulties for the child in the long term, warns the American Better-Hearing Institute (BHI). Read more

November 4, 2010:

Protein can help to restore hearing

Researchers at the University of California in San Diego have discovered, that the protein Sox2 is involved in the process through which stem cells develop into ganglion neurons — the nerve cells that send sound representations to the brain. Read more

November 3, 2010:

Hearing loss may result in the loss of both job and income

However, the use of hearing aids reduces the impact of hearing loss on one’s job and income, an American study shows. Read more

October 27, 2010:

Alcohol may cause hearing loss

Many of us are probably aware of the obvious risks connected with excess drinking. But we may not be aware of some of the less recognized side effects cause by alcohol. Research shows that alcohol can also have an effect on our ability to hear. Read more

October 21, 2010:

Three million Canadians suffer from hearing loss

Hearing loss affects 10 percent of all Canadians, but only one in six of the hearing impaired wear hearing aids. Read more

October 18, 2010:

A gene identified as the reason for age-related hearing loss

Researchers from California have connected the gene Loxhd1 with age-related hearing loss. The discovery can perhaps help researchers develop new forms of treatment. Read more

October 13, 2010:

Take care of your child’s hearing

Children are born with more hearing-related nerve cells than adults. That means that they do not develop noise-related hearing loss as quickly as adults, but when the damage is first done, it is permanent. Read more

October 7, 2010:

Hearing loss among teenage girls has doubled

A study published in the American Journal of Adolescent Health shows that high-frequency hearing loss among some teenage girls has risen from around 10 percent to almost 20 percent in 24 years. Read more

October 4, 2010

Use of cell phones may increase risk of tinnitus

Researchers think that a possible explanation for tinnitus may be that the auditory pathway directly absorbs a significant amount of microwave energy emitted by a cell phone. Read more

September 29, 2010:

Noise affects our physical and mental well being

A major Swedish study shows that noise has a great affect on our lives. Not just at work but also in our free time. The consequences are hearing loss, stress, uneasiness, concentration difficulty and many other symptoms. Read more

September 23, 2010:

Painkillers may cause hearing loss

Over-the-counter painkillers such as aspirin and paracetamol can lead to hearing loss if they are taken often. It is especially young men who risk hearing loss. Read more

September 20, 2010:

Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich suffers from ringing in the ears

Life as a rock musician has left its mark on drummer Lars Ulrich from the band Metallica. Innumerable huge concerts without ear plugs means that he today suffers from Tinnitus. Read more

September 15, 2010:

Parents worried about their children’s hearing

An American study places hearing loss as the top medical concern among parents. Read more

September 13, 2010:

A protein found to be crucial for hearing

The role of a protein in the inner ear has been found to be crucial for hearing ability and balance, according to a study. When there is a mutation in the gene which encodes this protein, hearing loss and balance disorders were found. Read more

September 10, 2010:

More teens are hearing impaired

Nearly one in five American teenagers has some degree of hearing loss. This is a sharp increase from just 15 years ago, a study shows. The main cause is thought to be teen’s use of ear buds. Read more

September 3, 2010:

51% of Irish MP3-users are damaging their hearing

A survey conducted in Ireland found that the nation’s MP3 generation is facing premature hearing damage. Read more

August 25, 2010:

Being hearing impaired is draining

It is not strange to feel tired as a hearing impaired person. It requires extra energy to concentrate just to hear. Read more

August 19, 2010:

Implanted hearing aids heighten childrens quality of life

A recent American study shows that implanted hearing aids called Cochlear implants increase the quality of life of deaf children. According to the study, deaf children with implants rate their quality of life as highly as children with normal hearing. Read more

August 16, 2010:

Can antibiotics protect hearing?

Studies with mice indicate that small doses of antibiotics can protect hearing. These effects have however only been observed in mice. Read more

August 6, 2010:

Men most at risk from noise on the job

A Norwegian study shows that men have a greater risk of developing hearing loss than women and that male-dominated positions are more at risk than others. The results can be used to fight hearing damage in these high-risk jobs. Read more

August 3, 2010:

Older people have "Golden ears"

Around 5% of all people over the age of 50 have what is called golden ears. This means that they can hear the full range of frequencies detectable by the human ear (roughly 20 hertz to 20 kilohertz). Most people lose some of their hearing with age. Now the reason for golden ears is being studied. Read more

July 28, 2010:

GPs do not notice hearing loss enough

An Australian study has shown that a patients hearing impairment is not always caught by the GP. This does not just have consequences for the individual, but for society as a whole. Read more

July 23, 2010

Vitamin A may protect from hearing loss

Research shows a connection between the concentration of vitamin A and the occurrence of hearing loss. These vitamins come especially from daily nutrition. Read more

July 20, 2010:

What does your hearing aid sound like?

Sound is measured in decibels, but it can be difficult to describe what the sound in a hearing aid actually sounds like. The perception of sound cannot be measured, it is subjective and can be difficult to describe. Read more

July 9, 2010:

Study documents mp3-damage

Seven percent of studied nine-year-olds have tinnitus. Those are the findings of the first scientific investigation into the effects of young people’s mp3-usage. Read more

July 5, 2010:

Cochlear implants - the earlier, the better

Children who receive cochlear implants before the age of 18 months are more able to hear, comprehend sound and music, and speak than their counterparts who receive the implants at a later age, a study shows. Read more

June 29, 2010:

Solar-powered hearing aids

In Botswana, an NGO project is producing hearing aids for the hard of hearing in developing countries. The apparatus also includes a small recharger, in which the batteries can be recharged using the suns rays. Production of the hearing aids started as a small project, but has grown so large that the hearing aids can now be purchased in 31 developing countries. Read more

June 24, 2010:

Tinnitus is not hereditary

An extensive Norwegian study now suggests that tinnitus is not hereditary. It is however too early to confirm whether this is true for all forms of tinnitus. Read more

June 23, 2010:

Hearing aid batteries now become mercury-free

New mercury-free batteries can not only benefit the environment but also give hearing aid users a clearer conscience. The new types of batteries can cause problems for the hearing aids users. Both the battery manufacturers and the hearing aid manufacturers work hard to solve these temporary problems. Read more

June 15, 2010:

Is an erection worth a hearing loss?

A US study shows a correlation between hearing loss and the use of the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra. Read more

June 11, 2010:

Stem cells can possibly re-establish hearing

Hearing loss is often the result of damaged hair cells in the inner ear. Birds have the ability to create new hair cells, but that is an ability that mammals, and therefore humans, do not possess. Researchers are now looking at a way of making stem cells develop into new hair cells, which can possibly re-establish hearing in people. Read more

June 10, 2010:

Watch out for your hearing in the World Cup

As a football fan you would love to support your national team in the World Cup 2010 in South Africa, if you are planning to do so, remember to take not just your enthusiasm, but also a pair of earplugs to the stadium. Read more

June 4, 2010:

Socioeconomic status may influence the risk of hearing loss

A Swedish study has shown that hearing problems can be associated with socio-economic status and noise exposure. Read more

May 28, 2010:

Noise induced hearing loss a risk for truck drivers

Hearing loss is one of the elements which can have the most significant impact on a truck driver’s ability to do his or her job. A new study of 500 truck drivers has demonstrated the risk of hearing loss that they face. Read more

May 25,2010:

Hearing with your skin

We don’t just use our ears when we hear, but also our skin. The two senses work together to help us hear. Read more

May 18, 2010:

Hearing-problems not the end of the world

Many parents react with shock and anger when they are told that their child has hearing problems. This is a natural reaction among the sorrow and frustration such a situation can bring. Read more

May 12, 2010:

Tinnitus on the menu

Ready meals and light products are among a range of foods, which can actually make tinnitus worse, say an expert. Read more

May 7, 2010:

Parents do not know enough about middle ear inflammation

Over 90% of parents have inadequate or no knowledge whatsoever of middle ear inflammation (otitis media), and that can put their children at risk. Read more

May 4, 2010:

A gene that can cause hearing impairment

A gene involved in our hearing is called claudin-9. When that gene suffers a mutation, the result can be hereditary hearing problems. Those are the findings of scientists from Kansas State University and University of Iowa, through their studies with mice. Read more

April 27, 2010:

Healthier hearing in the baby boomers

The hearing of the post-war generation — the baby boomers — is better than that of their parents. That is the conclusion of an American study, which shows that the rate of hearing impairment in baby boomers is in fact 31% lower than that of their parents. Read more

April 19, 2010: