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Health News Results - 52
A Year After Launch, OTC Hearing Aids Aren't Catching On With U.S. Consumers
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- September 13, 2023
- Full Page
It's now been possible to buy a hearing aid over-the-counter for nearly a year, but few Americans are doing so.
More education is needed about just who these over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids can help, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA...
Early Detection Is Key to Correcting Childhood Hearing Loss. Know the Signs
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- March 26, 2023
- Full Page
Early detection of childhood hearing loss is crucial but also challenging because babies can't tell their parents or doctors exactly what's wrong.
About 2 to 3 of every 1,000 kids is born with permanent hearing loss, so most health systems test newborns within a day or t...
Make Efforts to Protect Your Hearing
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- March 3, 2023
- Full Page
About 48 million Americans have some degree of hearing loss, but there are ways to preserve this important sense.
Together, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) offer some tips for protecting yourself...
Live Near Busy Traffic? You May Be at Higher Odds for Tinnitus
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- February 6, 2023
- Full Page
People who live near traffic noise, especially when it continues at night, are more likely to develop the repetitive whistling or buzzing sounds in their ears known as tinnitus.
Danish researchers found a link between the risk of developing the condition and traffic noi...
Could Wireless Earbuds Help Boost Poor Hearing?
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- November 17, 2022
- Full Page
Over-the-counter hearing aids now offer older Americans a more affordable option to deal with mild to moderate hearing loss.
But some hard-of-hearing seniors already tote around a device that might help just as much — the wireless earbuds they use with their smartphone...
You Can Now Buy Hearing Aids Over-the-Counter. Experts Offer Tips for Consumers
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- October 17, 2022
- Full Page
It's official: Older Americans with hearing loss can now stroll into a big box store or pharmacy — or just visit a website — and buy hearing aids without a prescription.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved this
Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids Are Coming in October. Experts Offer Tips for Consumers
- By Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- September 27, 2022
- Full Page
Adults with hearing loss soon will be able to amble into a big box store or pharmacy — or just visit a website — and buy hearing aids without a prescription.
B 8/9 -- Ashton Kutcher 'Lucky to Be Alive' After Battle With Vasculitis
- By Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- August 9, 2022
- Full Page
Actor Ashton Kutcher is opening up about dealing with a rare condition called vasculitis that for a time left him seriously disabled.
In an episode of “Running Wild with Bear Grylls: The Challenge,” airing Aug. 14 on National Geographic channel, Kutcher, 44, reveals ...
Voices in Your Head: Wearing Headphones Changes Listening
- February 25, 2022
- Full Page
Headphones have a much greater impact on listeners than external speakers because they put voices "inside your head," a new study explains.
"Headphones produce a phenomenon called in-head localization, which makes the speaker sound as if they're inside your head," said s...
Could OTC Painkillers Raise Your Odds for Tinnitus?
- February 11, 2022
- Full Page
Frequent use of common, over-the-counter painkillers such as aspirin and Tylenol isn't risk-free, with new research suggesting it may increase your risk of tinnitus, or "ringing in the ears."
A study of more than 69,000 women found that, in addition to aspirin and Tylen...
More U.S. Women Are Retaining Their Hearing as They Age
- Cara Murez
- December 29, 2021
- Full Page
Hearing loss can happen with advancing age, but fewer American women appear to be affected now than in the past.
Researchers who studied hearing loss between 2008 and 20...
Cochlear Implants a Big Help to Deaf Children With Autism
- Cara Murez
- December 29, 2021
- Full Page
Having autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can make communication a challenge, and some of these children are also deaf, making social interactions even more daunting.
But new research suggests that cochlear implants can go a long way toward helping these kids understand spee...
Could Cochlear Implants Cause Harm to Hearing Over Time?
- Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
- December 8, 2021
- Full Page
People who get cochlear implants to treat severe hearing loss may develop new bone growth in the ear -- and it may lessen any hearing they have left, a new study hints.
The researchers found that among 100-plus adults with cochlear implants, two-thirds showed evidence of...
Black Americans Less Likely to Lose Hearing as They Age
- Robert Preidt
- December 3, 2021
- Full Page
Older Black Americans are much more likely to have good hearing than white Americans, and the difference is especially notable among men, a new study shows.
“We found that among males, non-Hispanic Black Americans have a prevalence of hearing loss that is similar to no...
Assistance Dogs Bring Big Boost to Deaf People
- Robert Preidt
- December 2, 2021
- Full Page
Hearing dogs make a huge difference in deaf people's lives, a new British study shows.
The dogs are trained to alert deaf people to everyday sounds such as doorbells, human voices, baby monitors and alarm clocks, as well as safety-related sounds such as smoke and intrude...
Coronavirus May Infect, Harm the Inner Ear
- Robert Preidt
- October 29, 2021
- Full Page
By now, it would seem that there is almost no part of the body that the new coronavirus does not strike, but new research adds one more: COVID-19 may be able to infect the inner ear and affect hearing and balance.
There have been reports of COVID-19 patients with symptom...
FDA Eases Access to Cheaper Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- October 19, 2021
- Full Page
Affordable over-the-counter hearing aids could soon bring relief to millions of Americans suffering from hearing loss, under a landmark proposal announced Tuesday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The proposal would create a category of hearing aids that could be...
Could Cheaper, Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids Finally Be Here?
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- September 9, 2021
- Full Page
Until now, folks suffering from hearing loss typically have had to fork out thousands of dollars for a device that could be adjusted only by a professional audiologist.
No wonder that only one-quarter of the nearly 29 million U.S. adults who could benefit from a hearing ...
Another Fireworks Hazard: Loss of Hearing
- July 2, 2021
- Full Page
Add hearing loss to the many dangers posed by fireworks.
More than 40 million Americans have some type of hearing loss, and about 10 million of those cases can be attributed to noise, according to the American Academy of Audiology.
Noise from fireworks can reach 1...
Osteoporosis Might Also Raise a Woman's Odds for Hearing Loss
- Cara Murez
- May 26, 2021
- Full Page
It's a connection most women may not be aware of, but a new study suggests osteoporosis may raise your risk of hearing loss, and the drugs often used to treat thinning bones won't lower that risk.
According to researcher Dr. Sharon Curhan, data from her team's new study ...
What Works Best to Ease Recurrent Ear Infections in Kids?
- Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
- May 13, 2021
- Full Page
Frequent middle-ear infections are the nemesis of many parents and young children. Now a new study suggests that a common treatment -- "ear tubes" -- may not prevent future bouts.
Middle-ear infections (or acute otitis media) are second only to the common cold in creatin...
Is Your Spin Class Music Way Too Loud?
- Robert Preidt
- April 12, 2021
- Full Page
Turning down the music at your fitness classes won't affect the intensity of your workout, researchers say.
It's common for fitness instructors to crank up the volume -- sometimes to levels loud enough to damage hearing -- because they think it will help students work ha...
Diminished Hearing, Vision Together Could Be Risk Factor for Dementia
- April 7, 2021
- Full Page
A combination of hearing and vision loss is tied to an increased risk of mental decline and dementia, but having just one of those impairments isn't connected with a higher risk, a new South Korean study finds.
It's not clear why a diminishing of both senses, but not ju...
Most Older Americans Need Hearing Checks, But Many Aren't Getting Them
- Robert Preidt
- March 8, 2021
- Full Page
Even though research has shown that at least 50% of older adults suffer some degree of hearing loss, a new study finds that most aren't getting their hearing checked.
A national survey of more than 2,000 adults, aged 50 to 80, found that 80% said their primary care docto...
As Mask-Wearing Prevails, People Are Adapting to Understanding Speech
- Robert Preidt
- February 8, 2021
- Full Page
As face masks have become the norm during the coronavirus pandemic, people have learned to communicate more clearly with their mouth covered, new research finds.
For the study, researchers asked participants to record sentences in three speech styles -- casual, clear and...
Targeted Microwaves Probably Caused U.S. Embassy Illnesses: Scientists
- Robert Preidt
- December 7, 2020
- Full Page
Targeted microwaves were the likely cause of mysterious illnesses that afflicted staff and their families at U.S. embassies in Cuba and China, according to a U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine report.
Symptoms included ear pain, intense head ...
COVID Can Make Your Ears Ring
- Cara Murez
- November 6, 2020
- Full Page
Tinnitus, a common hearing problem, may be worsened by COVID-19 or possibly even triggered by the new coronavirus, new research indicates.
Moreover, people with tinnitus are further struggling because of lifestyle changes forced by the pandemic, the study found.
Ti...
For Kids With Hearing Issues, Early Intervention Crucial to School Readiness
- Amy Norton
- September 28, 2020
- Full Page
When babies with hearing impairments get help very early in life, they are more likely to be "kindergarten-ready" when the time comes, a new study finds.
In the United States, all states have government-funded "early intervention" programs designed to assist parents ...
Hearing Persists at End of Life, Brain Waves of Hospice Patients Show
- Robert Preidt
- August 26, 2020
- Full Page
Even if they appear unresponsive, dying people may still be able to hear.
That's the takeaway from a Canadian analysis of hospice patients in Vancouver.
Researchers compared electroencephalography (EEG) data -- a measure of electrical activity in the brain ...
Say What? Like Animals, People Perk Up Their Ears to Hear
- Robert Preidt
- August 4, 2020
- Full Page
Like many other animals, people can move their ears to focus on a specific sound, researchers say.
However, this movement of ears is subtle and the ability to do it hasn't been known until now.
By measuring electrical signals in ear muscles as volunteers tr...
Another Side Effect of COVID-19 -- Lasting Hearing Problems?
- Steven Reinberg
- July 31, 2020
- Full Page
The aftereffects of COVID-19 are numerous, and now British researchers report that many patients recovering from infection with the new coronavirus have lingering hearing problems.
For the study, 120 U.K. patients who had been hospitalized for COVID-19 took part in a...
Face Masks Making Things Tough for the Deaf
- Robert Preidt
- July 21, 2020
- Full Page
As the debate over face masks continues, few may realize how the coverings make it hard for the 48 million Americans with hearing loss to communicate with others.
Masks can muffle sound, making it more difficult to understand speech and higher-pitched voices; prevent...
Masks, Video Calls: Pandemic Is Hampering Communication for Those With Hearing Problems
- Serena McNiff
- July 17, 2020
- Full Page
Face masks help prevent the spread of COVID-19, but they have a huge downside for people with hearing problems: They muffle sound and prevent lip-reading.
But that's only one of several ways that pandemic-related safety precautions are making communication more chal...
More Clues to the Genes Behind Hearing Loss
- Robert Preidt
- July 16, 2020
- Full Page
Dutch researchers have identified a common genetic variant as a cause of deafness, and say it could be a good target for gene therapy.
Deafness in adults is known to be inherited but, unlike childhood deafness, the genetic causes aren't clear.
To date, 118 ...
Experts Warn of 'Sound Cannon' Hearing Loss at Protest Marches
- Steven Reinberg
- June 15, 2020
- Full Page
As Americans take to the streets to protest police brutality, they may face ear-blasting "sound cannons" that can harm their hearing.
Sound cannons, or long-range acoustic devices (LRADs), were developed for the military, and now some police departments use them as w...
AHA News: Traffic Noise Might Increase Diabetes, Blood Pressure Risks
- March 9, 2020
- Full Page
Navigating through congested road traffic is enough to make even the most laid-back people lose their cool. As it turns out, just the sound of road noise may increase the risk of developing high blood pressure and diabetes.
That was the finding of researchers who co...
A Stroke at 30,000 Feet? For One Lucky Passenger, It Wasn't
- E.J. Mundell
- January 27, 2020
- Full Page
A flight attendant on a recent commercial flight sent out the message: "Is there a doctor on board?"
An otherwise young, fit male passenger had suddenly lost the ability to move the muscles on the right side of his face, including the ability to close his right eye. ...
How Are Your Newborn's Ears Working? Early Hearing Test Is a Must
- Len Canter
- January 1, 2020
- Full Page
When you have a baby, it seems like you visit the doctor all the time for checks on weight and length and to get needed vaccinations. But are you as aware of the guidelines regarding hearing checks for your little one?
Following them is extremely important to his or...
Ring in the New Year Without Ringing in Your Ears
- Steven Reinberg
- December 31, 2019
- Full Page
Ringing in the new year shouldn't be a deafening experience, so protect your hearing, experts advise.
Loud music, fireworks, party horns, kazoos and other noisemakers can all help usher in 2020 with a blast, but can also cause ringing in your ears or even permanent ...
Routine Ear Wax 'Flush' Leaves Woman's Face Paralyzed
- E.J. Mundell
- December 19, 2019
- Full Page
In what doctors say is an extremely rare occurrence, a woman in her 70s went to her doctor to have impacted ear wax removed and wound up with permanent paralysis in her face.
The case report was described by British physicians in the Dec. 19 online edition of JAM...
Playing Sports Might Sharpen Your Hearing
- Robert Preidt
- December 9, 2019
- Full Page
Playing sports may improve the brain's ability to process sounds, a finding that could lead to new therapies for people who struggle with hearing, researchers report.
"No one would argue against the fact that sports lead to better physical fitness, but we don't alway...
Music Career Might Bring Ringing in the Ears
- Robert Preidt
- November 22, 2019
- Full Page
Being a musician might be hard on your hearing, new British research suggests.
Those in the music industry have a much higher risk of tinnitus than people who work in quieter settings, a new study finds.
People with tinnitus hear ringing, buzzing or whistli...
Deep Brain Stimulation May Relieve Ringing in the Ears: Study
- Steven Reinberg
- October 7, 2019
- Full Page
Ringing in the ears (tinnitus) can make life miserable, but a brain implant may help, preliminary research suggests.
In a phase 1 trial of five patients whose severe tinnitus did not respond to other treatments, deep brain stimulation (DBS) diminished the ringing in...
If a Child's Schoolwork Slips, Don't Rule Out Hearing Loss
- Robert Preidt
- September 10, 2019
- Full Page
Falling school grades could be a sign of hearing loss in children, according to the American Academy of Audiology.
"A child with just minor hearing loss can be missing a significant amount of the classroom discussion," said academy president Lisa Christensen.
...More Clues to Mysterious Illness Among Staff at U.S. Embassy in Cuba
- Amy Norton
- July 23, 2019
- Full Page
Nearly three years ago, U.S. diplomats in Cuba began experiencing hearing loss, dizziness and memory problems -- in what the Trump administration attributed to an attack of unknown origin.
Now researchers say they have detected some "alterations" in the patients' bra...
Zika's Damage Continues in Children Infected Before Birth
- Robert Preidt
- July 9, 2019
- Full Page
New research shows that neurological damage for babies who were exposed to the Zika virus while in the womb continues to unfold years after birth.
Developmental problems were found in one-third of the 216 children studied, some of whom were 3 years old. The problems...
Huhn? Scientists Working on Hearing Aid That Solves the 'Cocktail Party' Problem
- Alan Mozes
- May 15, 2019
- Full Page
WEDNESDAY, May 15, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Chances are if you're over 60 it's already happened to you: You're in a crowded room and finding it tough to understand what your partner is saying a couple of feet away.
It's a longstanding hearing-loss issue known as the...
Quieter NICUs a Good Rx for Premature Babies
- Robert Preidt
- May 15, 2019
- Full Page
Shhhhh. Preterm infants can benefit from quiet times in hospital neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), a new study says.
High noise levels are known to harm health, and infants in NICUs are especially vulnerable, so some NICUs have created quiet times to limi...
'Buzzing' in Ear Alerted Boy to Very Unwelcome Visitor
- E.J. Mundell
- May 1, 2019
- Full Page
The Connecticut 9-year-old knew something was wrong. Three days after a routine day in the school playground, he felt something "foreign" in his right ear and persistent buzzing noises.
Doctors who examined the boy's ear at Yale-New Haven Hospital quickly ascertained...
Brain Sharpens the Hearing of the Blind, Study Finds
- Robert Preidt
- April 24, 2019
- Full Page
Researchers have long wondered why blind people seem to have a sharpened sense of hearing. Now a Seattle team has pinpointed specific brain adaptations that occur in folks without sight.
"There's this idea that blind people are good at auditory tasks, because they ha...