Hearing Loss

Coronavirus: Why We’re Investigating the Long-Term Impact on Hearing

Despite the multitude of ongoing research studies on COVID-19, there are many unknowns about the disease. What is known, however, is that it is more than just a simple lung infection.

Current research suggests that the respiratory system is not the lone organ system bearing long-term effects from the disease. COVID-19 may impact cardiovascular, immune, and nervous systems. Coronaviruses also may cause peripheral neuropathy or Guillain-Barré syndrome, both of which could result in auditory neuropathy.

Rebecca Krill’s TED Talk: How Technology Has Changed What It’s Like to Be Deaf

By Erin Schafer, PhD

As audiologists, we live and breathe hearing technology, but we don’t always have the opportunity to learn about how a lifetime of hearing technology shaped a person’s life.

I had the distinct pleasure of learning about Rebecca Krill’s journey with congenital hearing loss in her recent TED talk, “How technology has changed what it’s like to be deaf.”

Cognitive-Processing Issues in Older Patients with ARHL

When serving our older patients, cognitive screenings may provide valuable insight into the listening and communication difficulties in complex environments. However, a recent study by Dr. Christian Füllgrabe (2020) suggests that the results of cognitive screenings may be impacted by the presence of age-related hearing loss (ARHL).

Abstract Illustration of group building a process of providing Cochlear Implants into your practice

Cochlear Implants in Private Practice…My Practice?

The world of cochlear implants (CIs) is evolving. What was once a treatment pathway for a limited population of patients with profound hearing impairment has expanded to include individuals with moderate to severe hearing loss. CI technology, which began as basic sound processing through an electrode array, has grown to include Bluetooth streaming and cell phone connectivity.

Topic(s): Cochlear Implants (CI), CI, Hearing Impairment (HI), Hearing Loss, Hearing Aids

Author(s):

Dan Quall

Publication Issue: Audiology Today July/August 2020

Can’t Hear Because of this Ringing!

A very common complaint among tinnitus patients is that their hearing is compromised by the presence of tinnitus. If the tinnitus could be cured then they would hear just fine. Recently, Oosterloo et al (2020) sought to address this issue.

Using data from the Rotterdam Study, a population-based cohort study on aging, they compared participants reporting tinnitus to those without tinnitus in subgroups stratified for hearing thresholds on the digits in noise test.

Age-Related Hearing Loss: Fruit Flies and Humans

Did you know that fruit fly antennal ears share many similarities with human ears?

Keder and colleagues (2020) report on the hearing sensitivity of the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) across its lifespan of approximately 70 days.

Similar to human hearing, with age, hearing of the fruit files declines, with the hearing loss occurring after 50 days of life in the fruit fly.

Tinnitus? Or Notched or Sloped Hearing Loss?

Tinnitus is a heterogenous phenomenon that includes a range of sound percepts, patient reactions, and patient characteristics. It is also not uncommon for patients to complain of tinnitus, but based upon further inquiry to determine their chief complaint is actually hearing loss.

Academy Recommends Protecting Your Hearing from Loud Outdoor Noise Exposure

Loud lawn equipment, fireworks, gunfire...

As summer nears, the American Academy of Audiology is warning the public to protect its hearing when exposed to loud outdoor sounds—from fireworks to lawn equipment to road equipment, blasting and gunfire, many of these are dangerous for hearing.

As temperatures increase across the country and more regions open up to outdoor shopping and dining, more Americans will be spending a greater amount of time outdoors. At the same time, the numbers of Americans facing hearing loss is at a record high and rising annually.

COVID-19: Considerations for Treatments Using Quinine Derivatives and Other Ototoxic Compounds

Hydroxychloroquine was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for emergency use to treat adults and adolescents with COVID-19.

Managing Stress and Anxiety in an Uncertain Time

How are you feeling since the COVID-19 outbreak? Really…how are you coping in this time of uncertainty? If you are losing sleep, feeling stressed and anxious, and having difficulty concentrating, you are not alone