Flies Exposed to Loud Noises Suffer from "Hearing Loss"

Ridiculous, but true.  Flies and humans are not that different when it comes to hearing loss.

Photo credit: justcola from morguefile.com

Daniel Eberl, researcher at The University of Iowa says “We found that fruit flies exhibit acoustic trauma effects resembling those found in vertebrates, including inducing metabolic stress in sensory cells."

The effect on the molecular underpinnings of the fruit fly's ear are the same as experienced by humans, making the tests generally applicable to people, the researchers note.

Hearing Loss in Dogs : Hunting Is Bad For Your Pet's Ears

Photo credit: jade from morguefile.com

A couple of years ago the Mississipi State University published an article about hearing loss in dogs due to gun noise. Their conclusion was that frequent exposure to gunshots can progressively damage a dog's hearing.

One researcher who worked on the study concluded : We are very excited about our preliminary data."
"Practically all of the hunting dogs have some hearing loss and practically all of the non-hunting dogs have great hearing."

The difference in hearing ability between the two test groups "is extreme," said one researcher. Ultimately, results of the study could have great consequences for hunters.

"Perhaps in the future we will recommend the same precautions for hunting dogs as for hunters, including earplugs," one of the researchers said.  

 You can read the original article at :

http://www.msstate.edu/web/media/detail.php?id=1812

Ever Wondered Which Famous People Suffer from Tinnitus?

Image by Dosionair via Flicker http://flic.kr/p/dprVpH

"Hearing loss is a terrible thing because it cannot be repaired.”

-- Pete Townshend (Guitarist from the Who)

"I was a major glutton for volume: 'Gotta feel it, gotta hear it.' Sooner or later you're going to pay the reaper."

-- Mick Fleetwood (Fleetwood Mack)

Exciting Research with Antioxidants

Photo credit: kakisky from morguefile.com

For some time now, researchers have focused their attention on antioxidants and their potential benefits to prevent and even cure hearing loss. Even the Department of Defense (thousands of US GIs suffer from hearing loss and tinnitus) has shown interest and awarded $1.2 to the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield, Ill earlier this year (Read article : http://www.hear-it.org/Antioxidants-against-noise-induced-hearing-loss)

An Application to Measure Sound

There is a Google application that measures sound. If you want to see a video showing how it works click on the read more link below. To download it click on this link :

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kr.sira.sound

If You Have a Child with Hearing Loss This E-book Might Help

In her book Stephanie Berry from Independent Speech, an online speech therapy private practice, states that children learn to communicate through their hearing. They begin by imitating the sounds they hear around them, if they do not hear themthey cannot learn them. However, many children have a hearing problem and their parents do not realize it! There is a large range of hearing problems that can be experienced by children. While some are quite obvious others may go undetected for several years. At this time, children with hearing loss are an underidentified and thus underserved population.

Photo credit: ronnieb from morguefile.com 

All About Hearing Loss by Stephanie Barry

Ear Protection : The Proper Way to Fit Foam Earplugs

Here's a list of drugs that could Harm Your Hearing

Photo credit: dhester from morguefile.com

It is known that some drugs are potentially harmful to your hearing. (See a previous article on that topic http://hearing-loss-news.blogspot.fr/2012/08/some-antibiotics-are-bad-for-your-inner.html). Some of these drugs are ototoxic.

Ototoxicity is damage to the ear (oto-), specifically the cochlea or auditory nerve and sometimes the vestibular system, by a toxin. It is commonly medication-induced; ototoxic drugs include antibiotics such as the aminoglycoside gentamicin, loop diuretics such as furosemide, and platinum-based chemotherapy agents such as cisplatin. A number of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) have also been shown to be ototoxic. This can result in sensorineural hearing loss, dysequilibrium, or both. Either may be reversible and temporary, or irreversible and permanent.
 (Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ototoxicity)

Infographic About Hearing Loss at Work

THIS PRESENTATION WILL EXPLAIN ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HEARING LOSS AND HEARING AIDS

From statistics about hearing loss to a description of the inner ear to hearing loss symptoms to hearing aids, this presentation covers everything you need to know in the subject.

Can You Hear Me Now? Hearing Aids: What You Need to Know from Springfield Clinic

Hearing Loss and Dementia

I have already written about the so far poorly understood link between hearing loss and dementia.
In the last year or so more articles have appeared in reliable health journals and newspapers about this. Unfortunately, we still don't know why and the connection between these two conditions is still there. The New York Times  published an article adapted from the book Shouting Won’t Help: Why I — and 50 Million Other Americans — Can’t Hear You,”  by Katherine Bouton.
A salient point in this article is the fact that it's not clear whether hearing aids can help stop this deterioration.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/11/straining-to-hear-and-fend-off-dementia/?ref=science?src=dayp

Hooray!! Hearing loss partially reversed!

A drug, LY41175, allows other cells in the inner ear to change into hair cells, which are essential, soundtransmitting cells in the inner ear. Normally, these cells are inhibited from making the switch. LY41175 releases that inhibition by interfering with the activity of a protein called Notch.

To read the original study go to :  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0896627312009531

http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-hearing-loss-partially-reversed-in-noisedamaged-ears-of-mice-20130110,0,3991224.story

A very clear presentation on Hearing Loss

Hearing loss from San Diego Continuing Education

Which ear plugs are the best?

Here you'll find a few articles I found.

http://www.slate.com/articles/life/shopping/2005/05/the_sound_of_silence.single.html#pagebreak_anchor_3

http://www.medicinenet.com/noise_induced_hearing_loss_and_its_prevention/page5.htm

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1202116/Five-best--earplugs.html

http://www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk/loud-music/what-earplugs-and-headphones-should-i-buy.aspx

http://answers.webmd.com/answers/1176154/how-effective-are-hearing-protection-devices