Connection Between Hearing Loss and Depression

The American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA) provides information about hearing health to the public. In a recent article it discussed the relationship between hearing loss and depression. The article was based mainly on adults of an elderly age. It explained how adults who have not treated their hearing damage were more likely to “report feelings of depression and anxiety” whereas those who had it treated did not.

According to ASHA people suffering from loss of hearing who do not receive treatment for it, or even admit to suffering from this condition feel isolated from family and friends. The reason being that they do not use hearing aids to improve their hearing so they are not able to hear well and may have trouble understanding what people tell them.

The article provides signs and symptoms that a person suffering from hearing loss exhibits, these are:

1. Difficulty understanding speech, especially when background noise is present.

2. Isolating themselves from social gatherings and public situations.

3. Watching television or listening to the radio at a much louder volume than normal.

4. Often asking for people to repeat themselves.

If you or someone you know has shown signs of hearing loss, it is recommended to visit your local Miami hearing center. Consult with an audiologist such as Dr. Joseph Duran, who may help in diagnosing and correctly treating the condition.

Franka Potente Ambassador of Hearing Health

New Generation Miami Hearing Center has joined the "Hear the World" campaign in creating awareness about hearing loss and hearing damage. The campaign is using the help of “Celebrity Ambassadors” who help spread the word. This week Franka Potente’s involvement with the campaign will be addressed.

Franka Potente became known to the public when she played Barbara Buckley in the movie Blow, alongside Johnny Depp. The 36 year old actress, has since starred in many Hollywood films including “The Bourne Identity” where she played the female lead and worked with Matt Damon.

Franka Potente understands how important hearing health is due to her upbringing. As she explains: “My mother works at an ear, nose and throat specialist’s practice. In other words, I was familiar with the issue from an early age. And as an actress I also know of course how immensely important the sense of hearing is.” She goes on to say, “hearing is not just hearing a sound, it is more. There is almost something three-dimensional about it. Hearing

Central Nervous System and The Brain

Have you ever gone to a concert or listened to a loud noise for a long time, only to have ringing ears right after? This condition is called Tinnitus which according to the American Tinnitus Association will affect 50 million Americans at some point in their lives. Patients who suffer from tinnitus might also experience hearing damage or different levels of hearing loss.

A research is being done by Dr. Alan Micco, an associate professor of Otolaryngology and Neurological Surgery at Northwestern University, to find out the different causes and treatments for tinnitus.

Northwestern University interviewed Dr. Micco and asked questions pertaining to the central nervous system’s role in tinnitus. He explained how “Brain research is hot right now, but we’ve known for a while that tinnitus is a central nervous system problem. Over 20 years ago, researchers found that people who used anti-anxiety and anti-depressant medications, such as amitriptyline and aprazolam, showed improvement in their tinnitus symptoms. This may have been because of the medications’ effects on the brain, possibly due to a sedative effect that decreases perception. Stress and anxiety can make you fixate on the tinnitus.”

Dr. Micco also talked about how physical changes in the brain are being monitored through PET scans, in patients suffering from tinnitus. The scans showed “increased levels of activity in the left temporal lobe”, which is where the auditory cortex is found.”

This research gives hope to people suffering from tinnitus. If you have experienced ringing ears that doesn't go away after a while, visit your Miami Hearing Center and consult with your Miami audiologist such as Dr. Duran, which will diagnose you and help treat this condition.

Harry Belafonte New Hearing Loss Ambassador

Harry has joined the “Hear the World” campaign, an initiative that helps individuals deal with hearing loss and learn about how to use hearing aids correctly. New Generation Miami Hearing Center is also part of this initiative. Harry Belafonte is mainly known for his hit song "Day O" which you can listen to in this video. The single came from the album "Calypso" in the year of 1956. It was number one in the billboard charts for a whole 31 weeks. The song's popularity came to life again when it appeared in the movie "Beetlejuice" in the year 1988.

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Connection Between Chronic Kidney Disease and Hearing Loss

In previous articles we have discussed the different causes of hearing loss and ways in which we can prevent it and improve our hearing health. In this article we will talk about a study done at the University of Sydney discussed by the American Journal of Kidney Diseases which suggests that people suffering from Chronic Kidney Disease,who are 50 and older might now have to worry about their hearing health.

Australian Doctor, David Harris, associate dean of Sydney Medical School at the University is the author of this study. There were 2,900 people who were tested. Moderate kidney disease was found in 513 of them. More than half of them reported having loss of hearing.

Dr. Harris explains how the loss has to do with a correlation between the tissues in the inner ear and the kidney. He talks about how there are “ Structural and functional similarities between tissues”. Dr. Harris suggests “Toxins that accumulate in kidney failure can damage nerves, including those in the inner ear. Another reason for this connection is that kidney disease and hearing loss share common risk factors, including diabetes, high blood pressure and advanced age."

The National Kidney Foundation, has also raised their voice in concern and Dr. Kerry Willis senior vice president of the foundation talked about how people suffering from chronic kidney disease might begin receiving hearing tests and fittings for hearing aids to improve their quality of life.

If you or someone you know suffers from Chronic Kidney Disease, visit your local Miami hearing center to obtain an appointment with an audiologist such as Dr. Joseph Duran. This professional will be able diagnose your hearing health.

Maggie Gyllenhaal Joins Hearing Health Initiative

New Generation Miami hearing center has praised the different Celebrity Ambassadors for their involvement with the "Hear the World" Campaign. The Hear the World Campaign tries to create awareness about important topics dealing with hearing health, such as hearing loss and the usage of hearing aids.

This week is no different, we will talk about Celebrity Ambassador, Margaret Ruth “Maggie” Gyllenhaal. Maggie was born in New York City the year of on 1977, to a movie director and a screenplay writer. She began acting at a young age working in films her father directed. She later performed in movies that were shown in art house movie theaters and on TV. Maggie was catapulted to fame for her role as Attorney Rachel Dawes in the Batman movie “The Dark Knight”.

Maggie has two Golden Globe nominations. She is a talented actress working on a variety of films such as “World Trade Center” and “Monster House” , a computer animated film where she was the voice of Elizabeth “Zee”.

Hearing Health Affected by Loud Noise

We are always exposed to a variety of noises even before we step out of our homes. But what happens to our hearing health if the noise is constant and loud? The constant exposure to this type of sound could cause noise induced hearing loss (NIHL). The reason for this is because delicate parts in our inner ear or hair cells can be damaged, affecting hearing health. These hair cells are the ones responsible for converting sound energy into electrical signals that travel to the brain, once they are damaged there is no turning back.

NIHL is a very serious matter that can affect anyone. According to the National Institute of Deafness and other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), NIHL could be caused by a constant exposure to loud sounds over an extended period of time, such as a person working in a loud factory or by a one-time impulse sound such as an explosion.

Being exposed to loud noise can cause damage to the auditory nerves and hair cells in our auditory system, which cannot regenerate or heal. Impulse sounds may lead to instant permanent hearing loss, which may be accompanied by ringing ears. An article by NIDCD talks about a study in which it is shown that constant exposure to loud noise can cause formation of molecules inside the ear that damage hair cells and result in NIHL.

Never forget to protect your hearing if you know you're going to be exposed to loud noise by using earplugs. If you start having trouble understanding speech or begin to hear distorted or muffled sounds, you may be suffering from loss of hearing. Do not hesitate to contact your local Audiologist such as Dr. Duran. This expert will correctly diagnose you by performing a hearing test.