Research
Research survey: economic impact of hearing loss
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- Published on 27 May 2014
Research
PRNewswire reports the findings of a new research survey carried out by EPIC Hearing Healthcare which found that up to 30% of employees in the United States suspect they have some degree of hearing loss, but have not sought treatment for their condition.
Impact of immigration on changing prevalence rates of hearing loss
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- Published on 26 May 2014
Research
With increasing numbers of children entering the United States as immigrants, it is likely that prevalence estimates of childhood hearing loss are underestimated. This is the hypothesis put forward by researchers at Missouri State University, Springfield, MO, USA.
Health survey among Europeans on biomedical research
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- Published on 23 May 2014
Survey
To mark its 50th anniversary, the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm) recently commissioned IPSOS, a large market survey company, to conduct a study on Europeans and biomedical research. To create a general picture, an internet survey was conducted including 1,001 French, 1,004 German, 1,001 Italian and 1,005 British respondents.
Potential neurotoxic pesticides and hearing loss
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- Published on 21 May 2014
Research
Many chemical substances are thought to be ototoxic, including toluene, styrene, ethylbenzene, carbon disulfide, lead, mercury and carbon monoxide. Several pesticides are suspected of being neurotoxic in humans and may therefore affect the auditory system. Researchers from the Department of Occupational Hygiene, Monte Porzio Catone, Rome, Italy, have analyzed human and experimental animal studies that tested the hypothesis that exposure to pesticides may be associated with hearing loss.
Toxic effects of bisphenol A: hearing no exception
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- Published on 20 May 2014
Research
In recent years, scientists have discovered several new toxic effects of bisphenol A, a carbon-based synthetic compound frequently used in plastics and epoxy resins. And it appears from a new study that the auditory system is no exception. A team of researchers from the French national center for scientific research (CNRS) has demonstrated how bisphenol A (BPA) is involved in malformation of otoliths, small structures in the inner ear that serve to control balance and also play a role in hearing.
Ways of reducing hearing loss risks of living in a noisy world discussed at the World Congress of Audiology
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- Published on 12 May 2014
EVENT
Last week, international hearing experts at the XXXII World Congress of Audiology in Brisbane discussed ways to offset a predicted increase in noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus caused by increasing recreational and occupational noise exposure. Living in a Noisy World Roundtable Convenor Dr Thais C. Morata (US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention) said our increase in noise exposure is caused by the world undergoing the fastest phase of growth and urbanisation in human history.
Hearing technologies could play an important role in delaying dementia
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- Published on 09 May 2014
EVENT
New research into understanding how the brain adapts and improves its hearing abilities through the use of hearing technologies could play an important role in the future management of dementia. The use of devices such as hearing aids and cochlear implants to delay and/or reverse cognitive decline in conditions such as dementia was one of the topics discussed at the XXXII World Congress of Audiology in Brisbane this week.
NOISE: online database highlights risks to hearing
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- Published on 30 April 2014
International Noise Awareness Day 2014
Researchers from the National Acoustic Laboratories (NAL) have been recording some of the country’s noisier recreational environments and uploaded the results of their efforts to a new website known as the NOISE Database.
Personality changes in elderly with hearing loss
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- Published on 29 April 2014
Research
Changes in personality are now known to occur across the life span but were previously thought to slow or stop from early adulthood. In recently reported findings published by researchers from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, a link was demonstrated between hearing impairment and a steeper age-related decline in extraversion in the elderly.
New study: hearing aids improve speech and language development
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- Published on 25 April 2014
Research
Although it is commonly accepted that providing hearing aids to children with hearing loss early on has a positive effect on their speech and language development, there are few published empirical studies evaluating the effectiveness of this practice.
