In the News

For people with hearing loss, using a hearing aid is associated with a reduced risk of three common health problems of aging—dementia, depression, and falls—according to a new study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.  This study adds to the growing body of research that links hearing loss to memory issues and dementia. “Cognitive decline is much higher among people with

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More than 50 million Americans struggle with tinnitus, a constant ringing in the ears that ranges from mildly annoying to severely debilitating, and no cure exists. Existing treatments help some people, but none seems to work for everyone. Hearing loss affects about 500 million people, and is a major risk factor for the condition. In their new study, researchers found inflammation in

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Using genetic tools in mice, researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine say they have identified a pair of proteins that precisely control when sound-detecting cells, known as hair cells, are born in the mammalian inner ear. The proteins, described in a report published June 12 in  eLife , may hold a key to future therapies to restore hearing in people with

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Delta flight attendants who speak sign language will soon have the option to wear a pin to help better inform signing passengers they share a common language. According to the airline, this makes them the first U.S. airline to officially offer sign language as part of their customer experience. Delta employees who speak American Sign Language, or any of the more

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We’re constantly being reminded to protect our hearing when traveling to festivals and concerts. Despite the warnings, many of us continue on, taking the ability to listen to music clearly for granted. Today, many older adults are experiencing some sort of hearing loss, usually due to very loud music. To take a closer look, the  Harris Poll  took a survey

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The two most common types of hearing loss are caused by aging and exposure to excessive noise. In both cases, the hairs or nerve cells in the cochlea that are responsible for sending sound signals to the brain are progressively affected.  When the hairs or nerve cells become damaged or missing, the electrical brain signals are not transmitted effectively and sounds are

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New research has emphasized the need for the development of new unique treatments specifically tailored to the most common causes of hearing loss — age and excessive noise. The study, focused on differentiating the effects of hearing loss, was published this week in  JNeurosci . Refining treatments The paper, titled  Divergent Auditory-Nerve Encoding Deficits Between Two Common Etiologies of Sensorineural

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The ability to hear depends on proteins to reach the outer membrane of sensory cells in the inner ear. But in certain types of hereditary hearing loss, mutations in the protein prevent it from reaching these membranes. Using a zebrafish model, researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have found that an anti-malarial drug called artemisinin may help

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A loss of balance often occurs due to a problem with the signals the ear sends to the brain. These usually control our sense of balance and spatial awareness. However, if a person has a condition that affects the brain or inner ear, they may experience a loss of balance, spinning sensations, unsteadiness, lightheadedness, or dizziness. Loss of balance can

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Earwax is vital for protecting your ability to hear. But too much can sometimes accumulate and lead to itchiness, pain, a feeling of fullness, and even coughing. It can also temporarily muffle your hearing or cause tinnitus. Here, the best and safest ways to keep it in balance. We all have sticky, oily earwax in our ear canals. And that's a

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