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.

Exposure to Smoke May Lead To hearing Damage

Hearing loss is a serious problem for many individuals in Florida. The use of electronic devices that allow many to listen to loud music on the go increases the risk of hearing damage. But this is not all, there’s now a new study conducted by Dr. Anil K. Lalwani from New York University, that links exposure to smoke to hearing damage.

The study states, “Exposed adolescents were 1.83 times more likely to experience low-frequency hearing loss than those who had no exposure. According to the study, there is a 2.72 fold increase of developing hearing loss, in individuals who are regularly exposed to serum cotinine levels found in cigarette smoke.

With this information in mind, those who are regularly exposed to smoke should avoid being in that environment as to prevent hearing damage. Those who believe they might suffer from loss of hearing should visit their local Miami Hearing Center where an expert audiologist will help in the diagnosis and treatment of the condition.

Applications That Help Hearing Loss Patients

Technology in the form of hearing aids, has helped hearing loss sufferers better deal with their condition. As we move ahead in a world, there are new inventions created to facilitate our lives, such as iPhones, iPods and iPads.

If you are the owner of any of these products, you can download the following applications to help you with your hearing health condition:

EarTrumpet by Praxis BioSciences, LLC: according to the itunes website “EarTrumpet is a hearing application suite that provides hearing testing and hearing enhancement tools. The hearing enhancer amplifies and adjusts sound to discretely improve hearing via the earphones attached to an iPhone, iPod, or iPad.” Price: $3.99

Tooloud? by RGB-Studio: This simple application, helps you determine whether or not the place where you are is too loud, and may be damaging your hearing. Price: Free

TapToTalk By Assistyx LLC: A free application that helps children who suffer from hearing loss improve their communication skills.

dB Volume Meter By Darren Gates: This is another application that measures the volume in your environment. This can serve as a tool to prevent noise-induced hearing loss.

These applications can also help in the prevention of hearing damage, but it does not replace the visit to an audiologist and the usage of a personalized hearing aid.

Urging Relatives To Get Checked for Hearing Loss

During the holiday season, families tend to spend more time together to celebrate. During this time, it may become easier for family members to notice signs of hearing loss in their older relatives. While those exhibiting the hearing loss may avoid visiting an audiologist, loss of hearing can actually have a very negative effect on one’s well-being and should not go untreated. For instance, hearing loss can hinder a person’s ability to interact with others and participate in family activities, eventually leading to isolation and depression.

If you notice a family member exhibiting signs of hearing loss during your holiday family gatherings, you should d take it upon yourself to encourage them to have their hearing health checked by a professional. An audiologist will be better able to provide a loved one with the right hearing aid, which will help improve their quality of life.

Waiting to be diagnosed will prolong the negative effects loss of hearing can have on your loved one’s life. Family members can help relatives understand the seriousness of their condition, and get the help they need.

How Hearing Loss Affects Social Functioning of Children

The social functioning of children is closely related to their hearing health. Suffering from loss of hearing negatively affects their quality of life, leading to isolation. As the American Speech Language Hearing association (ASHA) explains “These social problems appear to be more frequent in children with mild or moderate hearing losses than in those with a severe to profound loss.”

ASHA also suggests the early treatment of hearing loss, which will help children develop language on par with their hearing peers. This will prevent any negative effects hearing damage has on children’s ability to interact with others.

It is important to visit a Miami Hearing Center, where an audiologist, such as Dr. Joseph Duran, will be able to provide the correct diagnosis. Once this has been done, your child will be provided with the appropriate hearing aid, to help treat their condition.

Ambra M H2O Hearing Aid Treating Hearing Loss

As the number of Americans suffering from hearing loss increases, many have resorted to the use of hearing aids, to help deal with the condition. An audiologist will be able to prescribe you the right hearing aid for your level of hearing damage. A quality hearing aid will help improve your quality of life.

Phonak offers a variety of hearing aids according to every need. Shown above is Phonak’s Ambra M H2O hearing aid. As the Phonak website explains “ the H2O series is for people with a mild to severe hearing loss who are interested in high performing, highly reliable and discreet hearing aids. These products are water, sweat, moisture and dust resistant.”

Water sports and other sports involving water, can be performed while using this hearing aid. For more information about the different quality hearing aids available, visit your local Miami Hearing Center.

Number of Americans suffering from Loss of Hearing Increases

A recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, has found that one in five Americans, ages 12 and older, are now suffering from hearing health conditions. The increased number of individuals using iPods and other devices, which exposes their hearing to constant loud noise, has created an increase in hearing damage sufferers. Many of whom, may require the use of hearing aids, to help deal with the condition.

Dr. Frank Lin, assistant professor in the department of otolaryngology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and lead author of the study, was interviewed by ABC News. He explained how “ Hearing loss is inevitable in many ways, and a lot of people view it as inconsequential, which is where there is a big mistake” He went on to say “ Hearing loss has a great impact on cognitive abilities and can progressively lead to social isolation and loneliness.”

If you believe you or a loved one may suffer from loss of hearing, it is important to visit your local Miami Hearing Center. An audiologist such as Dr. Joseph Duran will help in the diagnosis and treatment of your condition.

Identifying Hearing Damage In Children

Speech-language development in children can be negatively affected by damaged hearing. Early detection can have a great impact in the way a child is able to improve their speech and language knowledge. The negative effects of hearing damage in a child, according to ASHA include difficulty with learning “vocabulary, grammar, word order, idiomatic expressions, and other aspects of verbal communication.”

A child with undiagnosed hearing loss are not able to receive the proper hearing aids. As the child becomes of school age, they may undergo hearing screenings in school. These screenings may help determine whether or not the child may be suffering from loss of hearing.

If you believe your child may be suffering from hearing damage, it is important to visit your local Miami Hearing Center. An audiologist will be able to diagnose and prescribe the right hearing aid, to help improve your child’s quality of life.

Health Department Discusses Importance of Visiting An Audiologist

The Hutchinson Leader discusses the importance to seeing a hearing health practitioner. This is recommended to those individuals who may be showing signs of loss of hearing. The visit to an audiologist will help in the early detection of hearing damage, as well as the correct prescription of hearing aids.

As the article states, “Hearing aids are medical devices regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and must be recommended, sold and fit by qualified health professionals” Hearing aids are known to provide a better quality of life of individuals suffering from hearing loss.

For more information about the different quality hearing aids available, visit your local New Generation Miami Hearing Center. An audiologist will be able to help in the treatment and diagnosis of your condition.

Otoacoustic Emissions and Loss of Hearing

In previous articles we have gone over the importance of having your newborn tested for hearing loss. This is because hearing health conditions affect the early development of speech and language in children. One of the tests recommended for early detection in a newborn child is the Otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) test.

According to the American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), Otoacoustic emissions are sounds given off by the inner ear when sound reaches the cochlea. As ASHA expains “The sound can be measured with a small probe inserted into the ear canal. People with normal hearing produce emissions. Those with hearing loss greater than 25–30 decibels (dB) do not produce these very soft sounds.”

If you would like to learn more about the differing hearing tests available to help in the early detection of loss of hearing, contact your local Miami Hearing Center. An audiologist will be able to guide you in choosing the right hearing test, as well as help in the treatment of the condition.

Auditory Brainstem Response Hearing Health Test

There are a variety of hearing tests available that help in the diagnosis and treatment of hearing health. This article will go over the Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) test. This type of testing is done on children as well as newborns to identify loss of hearing.

After a visit to the audiologist, the professional determines if signs shown for hearing loss may or may not be connected to the brain. If there is suspicion an ABR test is performed. As the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA) explains “The auditory brainstem response (ABR) test gives information about the inner ear (cochlea) and brain pathways for hearing.” The ABR records brain wave activity when a person is exposed to sound. The results are analyzed to determine hearing damage.

If you would like to learn more about the Auditory Brainstem Response hearing test, as well as information regarding hearing loss, contact your local New Generation Miami Hearing Center. An audiologist will diagnose and treat your hearing health condition.

Middle-Ear Hearing Tests

There are many types of hearing tests performed to identify a variety of hearing health conditions. There are those which are used to test the health of the middle ear.In this article we will go over hearing tests, providing information about how the middle ear functions. As the American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) explains, these types of tests must be done in children between the ages of 3-5, as early detection helps prevent delays in speech development.

Some of these tests include: Tympanometry, which assists in detecting fluids in the middle ear, any type of perforation of the eardrum, as well as, wax that might be blocking the ear canal. Acoustic reflex measures aids in finding the location of the hearing problem. Lastly as ASHA states “Static acoustic impedance is useful in identifying a perforated eardrum or checking the openness of ventilation tubes.”

For more information about the different middle-ear hearing tests available visit your local Miami Hearing Center. An audiologist will not only give the proper diagnosis but also prescribe the best hearing aid, to improve your or your child’s quality of life.

Pure-Tone Hearing Helath Test

One of the first steps to take when noticing signs of hearing loss, is having your hearing health tested. This is because it allows for patients to receive the appropriate treatment, and be prescribed the most suitable hearing aid. In this article we will talk about Pure-Tone Hearing Test.

The American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) states“A pure-tone air conduction hearing test determines the faintest tones a person can hear at selected pitches (frequencies), from low to high. During this test, earphones are worn so that information can be obtained for each ear.”

If a child being tested refuses to wear earphones, speakers are used inside a sound booth, known as “sound-field screening” to conduct the test. The results, which are recorded in an audiogram, may not be as accurate, since this type of test is not able to analyze information from each ear.

For more information about the different types of hearing tests available, to help diagnose loss of hearing, contact your local Miami Hearing Center. An audiologist such as Dr. Joseph Duran will help in the treatment and diagnosis of your hearing.

Information Gathered During A Visit To An Audiologist

There are many signs that indicate a person may suffer from loss of hearing. The signs include: having to raise the volume of your television, being asked to lower your voice, asking someone to repeat what they have said etc. It is important to pay attention to these signs and seek help to begin treatment as soon as possible.

It is important to visit an audiologist if you believe you or someone you know may suffer from hearing loss. The American-Speech-Language –Hearing Association (ASHA), goes over some questions asked by the expert, to help determine yours or your child’s hearing background.

The questions include:

· Have you noticed any pain in your ears or any discharge from your ears?

· Do you experience dizziness?

· Is there a family history of hearing loss?

· Do you have greater difficulty hearing women’s, men’s, or children’s voices?

· Do people comment on the volume setting of your television?

· Has someone said that you speak too loudly in conversation?

· Do you frequently have to ask people to repeat?

· Do you hear people speaking but can’t understand what is being said?

· Do you have any history of exposure to noise at home … at work … in recreational activities … in the military?

To find out more about the information discussed during a visit to the audiologist, as well as how you may help prevent hearing health issues, contact your local Miami hearing center.

Hearing Health Affected By Specific Genes

An article published by the Jerusalem post discussed the results of a study conducted by Tel Aviv University (TAU) in Israel. The study discovered different genes in Middle Eastern families which could be the cause for hearing health issues. It found a connection between hearing loss in Middle Eastern families and a particular genetic mutation.

Middle Eastern families can now undergo genetic counseling, allowing them to prevent and reduce the risk of children being born with hearing damage. Although the genes responsible for hearing loss vary from one population to another, the identification of one in a particular group will allow for further studies in others.

If you believe you or someone you know may be suffering from hearing loss, it is important to visit your local Miami Hearing Center. An audiologist such as Dr. Joseph Duran, will provide you with a hearing test and help treat the condition accordingly.

How Hearing Loss Sounds

Hearing damage can occur to anyone, no matter their gender or age. Many individuals might be suffering from loss of hearing but don’t know it. This is why it is important to check for signs that might indicate hearing loss. The question is, how does hearing loss sound?

The Phonak website provides with examples of how different levels of hearing loss sound. It helps in understanding the nature of the condition and how it might affect a person’s quality of life. As the Phonak website explains: “ The first simulated hearing loss is a mild one and roughly reflects the average hearing loss of men at the age of 60. The second simulated hearing loss reflects a typical "sloping" (i.e., less hearing in the high frequencies) moderate hearing loss.”

If you believe you might suffer from a hearing health condition, it is important to contact your local New Generation Miami Hearing Center. An expert audiologist such as Dr. Joseph Duran, will not only help diagnose the illness but also help you find the correct treatment.