A viewpoint article published on “JAMA Network” on World Hearing Day considers the ways in which large-scale, public healthcare systems can implement strategies to address hearing loss which include funding research, improving communication, and streamlining hearing care services.
A “world-first genetic test,” partly developed by University of Manchester scientists that could prevent pediatric deafness in hundreds of babies each year treated with the antibiotic gentamicin, has been developed and successfully piloted in the NHS.
When a COVID-19 survivor reports that they have been diagnosed with brain fog or mild cognitive impairment (BF/MCI), or these terms appear in a medical report, hearing care professionals should be aware that many of the BF/MCI symptoms are very similar to those seen in patients with (central) auditory processing disorder. This article by audiologist Robert DiSogra, AuD, reviews the research on this subject and provides recommendations.
The text is divided into four clear sections to cover everything from the physics of sound to the anatomy and physiology of the auditory pathway and beyond.
In a recent TEDx talk called “Escaping the Hidden Prison of Auditory Processing Disorder,” Angela Loucks Alexander recalls being locked in a basement from the ages of 13-17 with no access to running water or a bathroom and not “talked to or touched,” apart from a twice-per-day sandwich delivery from her father.
A soon-to-be published study of 128 patients with tinnitus found that those with a normal hearing threshold had significantly higher speech reception thresholds (SRT) than a control group of patients with normal hearing and no tinnitus.
Proposed updates to the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities by The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) may shrink payments to veterans for disorders that include tinnitus and sleep apnea, according to an article in the “Military Times.”
Insight Pro's silicone cushion can now be swapped with a new disposable cushion, which aids in infection control — an important consideration during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kathy Dowd, AuD, provides an update on what we know about diabetes and hearing loss, as well as her and colleagues' advocacy efforts to inform consumers, hearing care professionals, and medical professionals about this important topic.