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