Fabry Disease May Affect Hearing Health

Fabry Disease, a rare inherited condition whose side effects may include: full body or localized pain to the extremities, kidney complications, high blood pressure, and fatigue, among others.  The treatment of this condition is done by enzyme replacement therapy. A study has found the effects of this treatment may lead to hearing health problems.

The study was conducted with 20 patients, 11 males and 9 females, between the ages of 15 and 69 years old. According to the National Center for Biotechnology  (NCBI), “Nine patients complained of hearing symptoms (hearing loss, tinnitus); for six of them the onset and/or progression of the hearing loss were sudden.” The study goes on to suggest how replacement therapy may cause hearing damage, and result in loss of hearing for patients.

It is commended for individuals undergoing enzyme replacement therapy, to visit their local audiologist and have their hearing tested. The proper diagnosis can help patients receive the right treatment that will help in improvement their hearing as well as their quality of life.

IBM Research Scientist Helps Hearing Loss Sufferers

New technology may facilitate phone conversations for those suffering from hearing loss. A recent article published by CNET, discusses how an IBM research scientist,

Dimitri Kanevsky,  who has suffered from hearing loss since the age of 3, has developed a technology that can help hearing loss sufferers better communicate.

He utilizes technology that instantly transcribes a phone conversation and posts the text on a commonly viewable Web site. As the article states, “Kanevsky and 13 others were honored at the White House in a ceremony to celebrate those "leading the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math for people with disabilities.”

Technological advances occur every single day, whether it is to help facilitate phone communications, or improve a hearing aid. Hearing loss sufferers are day after day able to receive a unit, which will help in the improvement of their quality of life.

Helping A Family Member Accept Their Hearing Loss

Millions of people are affected by loss of hearing. Since hearing loss occurs gradually, many individuals have a hard time accepting they may suffer from hearing damage and refuse to obtain a hearing test. It is important for family members to take part in convincing their loved ones in receiving the test, as to be properly diagnosed and begin the correct treatment.

A recent article published by the Palm Beach Post, goes over how many people have a hard time accepting their condition. Family members must help their loved ones understand being able to hear well can be a matter of safety, especially when loved ones have a hard time hearing smoke alarms or other alerting systems.

Once your loved one is correctly diagnosed, they will be able to lead a better quality of life with the appropriate hearing aid. The unit has been reported to dramatically improve the ability of a patient to hear properly, eliminated many of the negative effects that can come with hearing damage.

Hearing loss spreads to vocal nerves

How can hearing loss affect the brain? Dr. Richard Mooney of Duke University Medical Center, conducted a new study which may find a correlation in hearing loss and vocal nerves. The study was done with songbirds, analyzing portions of their brain that control how the birds sing.

According to the study, within the first 24 hours after hearing was lost, the songbird’s ability to sing decreased, this is because the nerve-cell connections in charge on the birds’ singing were weakened. According to Dr. Mooney "When hearing was lost, we saw rapid changes in motor areas in that control song, the bird's equivalent of speech," He goes on to explain, "This study provided a laser-like focus on what happens in the living songbird brain, narrowed down to the particular cell type involved."

Dr. Mooney believes that similar changes can occur in the human brain after hearing damage occurs, specifically in Broca’s area, which is a part of the brain that is important in generating speech, as well as receiving inputs from the auditory system. The importance of taking care of our hearing health with the appropriate hearing aids will not only improve our quality of life but also prevent damage to our vocal nerves.

Those Who Suffer From Hearing Loss Are Not Seeking Treatment

Hearing loss has become a widespread issue for millions of people in the United States. Exposure to loud noise in our environment is on the increase, and the constant use of headphones has caused hearing damage for many. The problem arises, when these individuals ignore the loss of hearing signs, and do not get the treatment they need.

A recent study published by Johns Hopkins University, demonstrated how the baby boomer generation is not getting the treatment they need for their hearing health problems. According to the study, “Of the estimated 26.7 million Americans age 50 and older with hearing loss, only about 1 in 7 use a hearing aid.”

It’s importance to create awareness on the importance of hearing aids, and how these units can help in increasing the quality of life of hearing loss sufferers. If you suspect you or a loved-one may suffer from hearing damage, you are urged to visit a quality Miami hearing center, where an audiologist will help in the diagnosis and treatment of your condition.