Researchers at the Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health found that mortality among those with hearing loss is elevated, particularly among men and women younger than age 75 and those who are divorced or separated.
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OTC hearing devices are coming, but how should they function and for whom should they be recommended? Drs Ron Leavitt, Ruth Bentler, and Carol Flexer present six case studies showing that people with true moderate hearing loss may not be well served by what has been characterized as a “consumer-decides” model of care.
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A team led by Professor Karen B. Avraham, vice dean of the Sackler Faculty of Medicine at Tel Aviv University, has now created the first map of “methylation”–one of the body’s main epigenetic signals–that reflects the functioning of the inner ear in its entirety.
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The discovery of this gene (Ikzf2) will help researchers better understand this unique type of cell that is needed for hearing and potentially develop treatments for common age-related hearing loss.
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Student Scholarships are available and will include registration, a $120 travel stipend to offset expenses, and a student membership in ACI Alliance until graduation.
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Before jumping to the conclusion that any PSAP and/or future OTC hearing device would be suitable for the many different types of hearing losses, we need to look at their coupler and real-ear performance data. This study by Adam Voss, Kristi Oeding, AU Bankaitis, John Pumford, and Michael Valente suggests current PSAPs are suitable for mild losses only.
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Is the connection between sensory impairment and cognitive decline linear, with one health concern leading to the other, or is it cyclical, reflecting a more complex connection? AGS-NIA conference attendees think answers to these questions are critical, which is why their conference report maps the state of sensory and cognitive impairment research while also outlining important priorities for future scholarship and clinical practice.
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Hearing care professionals often encounter people who complain of hearing difficulties and trouble hearing in noise, but when tested, present with hearing sensitivity and thresholds that are within “normal limits.” This article reviews the audiological evidence regarding this unique population and makes the case for educating them about sophisticated technology options—including hearing aids and wireless technology such as remote microphones—which have been proven to be extremely useful for enhancing their communication and quality of life.
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“In 2017, Health Canada required that the patient medication information for mefloquine be updated to warn that in some people, dizziness, vertigo, tinnitus, and loss of balance may become permanent,” said Dr Remington Nevin, executive director of The Quinism Foundation.
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Beginning in 2016, personnel at the US Embassy in Havana, Cuba (as well as Canadian diplomats and family members) described hearing strange sounds, followed by development of an array of symptoms. The source of the health problems has not been determined.
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This new grant will enable scientists to translate basic research findings into clinical tools and the development of novel treatments for hereditary deafness.
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James Jerger, PhD, explains how three methods for conducting pure-tone audiometry have dominated hearing assessment for almost 70 years. Here is a historical look at the evolution of the audiometric technique, how automation and automated adaptive techniques continue to evolve, and a perspective on what might prompt significant changes for the future.
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Akouos is developing targeted adeno-associated viral vector (AAV)-based gene therapies for sensorineural hearing loss, which results from dysfunction or damage to sensory cells and/or nerve fibers of the inner ear.
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One root of Alzheimer’s disease may be a simple imbalance in acid-alkaline—or pH—chemistry inside endosomes, the nutrient and chemical cargo shuttles in cells.
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The Wellbeing and Health for people with Dementia (WHELD) program trained care home staff to increase social interaction from two minutes a day to 10, combined with a program of personalized care. It involves simple measures such as talking to residents about their interests and involving them in decisions around their care.
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