HURRICANE FORCE
If you stifle a sneeze, you run the real risk of damaging your eardrums or sinuses or even getting an ear infection. The exhaled air from a sneeze exits through the nose and mouth at speeds of about 100 miles per hour. When these exits are closed, a sneeze has nowhere else to go but […]
HRT MAY POSE HEARING RISK
Men between ages 20 and 69 years have twice the risk of speech-frequency hearing loss as women do. In women affected by hearing loss, their lessened hearing ability appears to be more prevalent after menopause. With this in mind, many believe that female hormones (estrogen and progesterone) may exert a protective effect over hearing ability […]
SWIMMER’S EAR
“Swimmer’s ear” (otitis externa) is infection and inflammation of the ear canal, which can be quite painful and can cause temporary hearing loss. These symptoms often occur as a result of water remaining in the ear after swimming, creating a moist environment for bacterial growth to occur. Cuts or abrasions in the lining of the […]
AGE-RELATED SENSORY LOSS
Older individuals who are experiencing hearing loss may want to schedule an appointment with the ophthalmologist after they have their hearing tested. According to a study of nearly 2,000 adults with an average age of approximately 70, those with hearing loss were more likely to also have vision loss, and vice versa. It seems that […]
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 […]
