PREDETERMINATION
It is estimated that more than one out of three individuals have “pre-diabetes,” which develops before type-2 diabetes. Moreover, 90 percent of these individuals are unaware that they are pre-diabetic. Pre-diabetic is characterized by blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Fortunately, research shows […]
THE COCKTAIL PARTY EFFECT
The term “cocktail party effect” refers to the human ability to focus on a single speaker while turning out noisy background noise. Research indicates that the left side of our brain picks out the desired sounds from the background noise. This makes sense when you take into account that speech signals are processed in the […]
IMPROVED HEARING BOOSTS BRAIN POWER
Hearing loss can compromise cognitive ability because the brain must put added effort into understanding speech. Thus, it makes sense that new research indicates that providing individuals with hearing instruments not only helps them hear better, but it also boosts their brain function. When researchers examined people in their 50s and 60s with bilateral sensorineural […]
PAINKILLERS LINKED TO HEARING LOSS IN WOMEN
Regular readers of this column know that one of the best ways to avoid hearing loss is to reduce exposure to loud noise. Now, new research suggests that prolonged use of certain painkillers is also linked to hearing loss in women. While the magnitude of the hearing loss uncovered by researchers may be modest, the […]
ANEMIA TIED TO HEARING LOSS
Because hearing loss is so prevalent among older individuals, researchers have sought to find factors that will help identify those at increased risk. This research has recently yielded the finding that “sudden sensorineural hearing loss” (SSHL), during which hearing is severely reduced over a three-day period, is linked with “iron deficiency anemia” (IDA). This common […]
SWIMMER’S EAR
While the outer ear infection is commonly known as “swimmer’s ear” is usually associated with young children and the summer months, it can occur at any age, at any time of the year. Moreover, swimming is only one possible cause. This outer ear infection occurs in the ear canal between the outer surface of the […]
MAKING FRIENDS WITH ANEMONES
“Hair cells” are sensory cells located in the inner ear that get their name from their hair-like projections, called “stereocilia.” Hair cells play a critical role in enabling us to hear because they sense sound waves and convert them to electrical signals that are sent to the brain. Unfortunately, once hair cells in the human […]
HARDLY INCONSEQUENTIAL
While some persist in viewing hearing loss as an inconsequential part of aging, significant hearing impairment has been linked with substantial physical, psychological, and social ramifications. These consequences include isolation, loneliness, depression, anxiety, falls and other accidents, and increased mortality rate. In addition to increasing friction between friends, workers, and family members, hearing loss contributes […]
DIET AND HEARING
While there is no evidence that dietary supplements prevent hearing loss or improve hearing, some studies suggest that a healthy diet is conducive to good hearing. One study found that a diet high in sugar and carbohydrates may impair hearing by adversely affecting vascular health. Another study found that women who ate fish at least […]
DIABETES HEARING LOSS
While nerve damage (neuropathy) associated with diabetes is commonly concerned with the hands and feet, hearing loss can be another complication of uncontrolled diabetes. Research indicates that people with uncontrolled type-1 or type-2 diabetes are twice as likely as other individuals to experience hearing loss. It seems that diabetes affects hearing in a number of […]
