Following years of laboratory testing there is now evidence that the damage that loud noise cases to our hearing can be reduced by taking a pill. Human trials of the pill have now begun. It is predicted that a person will show an improvement in hearing test results after taking a drink with the substance dissolved in it.

This is just the latest research in an ongoing attempt to create a pill that can actually treat damage to a person’s hearing from loud noise and protect people from this kind of damage in the future. There has been a considerable increase in the efforts in recent years.

The new pill is not intended to replace ear protection. The pill is intended to be extra protection and work alongside existing ear protection to tackle the problem of hearing loss which is still wide spread with the protection that is currently available.

Federal government statistics show that hearing loss is a very common occupational hazard and the second highest reported form of occupational disease or injury. Approximately 10 million Americans live with permanent hearing loss caused by long-term exposure or a sudden burst of loud noise.

30 million people are at risk of hearing damage due to their exposure to dangerous noise levels in their occupations in industries such as the construction, agriculture, mining and manufacturing industries. For professional musicians there is also a great risk of hearing damage.

Hearing loss does not always occur at work. Many hobbies including recreational riffle shooting, race car driving and snowmobiles also have a high risk of causing hearing loss. More protection is needed than the amount provided by earplugs and the specialist sound deadening headphones that are currently available.

Unfortunately the current protection is not always effective against all types of sound. It is also not worn as regularly as it should be especially by those who are more prone to hearing loss. Certain levels of noise can also cause damage by penetrating different areas of the head where the protection is not worn.

The idea of creating a pill in order to strengthen resistance to hearing damage has been approached in different ways. Research from 1994 showed that in Israel military recruits managed to avoid hearing damage during their military training due to magnesium supplements in their diet. A lot of the research these days is centered around antioxidants the chemicals that are present in vitamins C and E.

The reason for this is that the force of loud sound is not always directly responsible for the damage to the hearing. Damage can be caused by free radicals that the inner ear produces after having been exposed to high volumes.

Free radicals can be neutralized by antioxidants naturally present in the ear. There can be too many free radicals produced from excessive loud noise for the antioxidants to be able to neutralize. The damage from the free radicals causes the ear’s sound receptors, hair shaped cells that produce nerve messages, to die. The damage caused by the cells dieing is permanent.

By increasing the level of antioxidants, hearing loss could be prevented or even treated straight after it occurs. From the animal experiments that have taken place this method shows promising results in preventing lasting hearing loss. Some experts remain cautious when it comes to the effectiveness of this method on humans. Although the antioxidant method looks promising, more tests on animals are required to see the effect different noise levels and the size of antioxidant doses to discover whether the method will be effective on humans.

Technorati Tags: ears, Hearing Aids, hearing loss, hearing tests

The sounds we are exposed to in today’s modern world are getting louder as we pump up the volume on our entertainment in the cinemas, at music concerts and on out home systems; not forgetting the increase in the noise from the cars and lorries on our roads and the constant din from industrial machinery and the power tools we are all using. This has had a major effect on the lives on many with over 28 million Americans being deaf or living with hearing problems.

A lot of hearing loss though can be prevented or the effects delayed. Medical treatments and the technology of hearing aids has advanced to allow many more cases of hearing loss to be effectively treated.

Hearing loss is now more likely to occur at a younger age as people are exposed to more sound at dangerous levels. The number of Americans that are living with irreversible damage to their hearing from dangerous noise levels is around 10 million, and 30 million are exposed to damaging levels of noise every day.

The age groups most likely to suffer from hearing loss is between the ages of 45 and 64 with men having a 356% loss and women having an 85% loss of hearing. Unlike age, hearing loss from noise levels and infections, especially during childhood is preventable.

Experts recommend hearing tests should begin at birth. Now it is possible to diagnose any problems with a newborn baby’s hearing using otoacoustic emissions. By the time a baby reaches six months it is already fast developing the language skills it needs for its life ahead and by testing its hearing early can ensure it gets the best chance to make the most of this important time.

Sound is collected by our outer ears and causes the ear drum and the tiny bones of the inner ear to vibrate. These electrical impulses are generated by hair like cells in the cochlea and are then sent to the brain. These cells are irreplaceable and as such if they die they cannot be grown back.

Tinnitus, a constant high pitched sound or buzzes and crackles in a person’s ears, is the most common symptom of hearing damage caused by excessive noise levels. Most people learn to live with tinnitus including the majority of the Americans who are known to suffer from it which is estimated at 40 million.

Some suffers find the level of noise easily bearable and many have described the sounds as crickets which they hear and which can lull them off to sleep. But for others tinnitus can be simply maddening. Approximately 10 million people suffer from severe tinnitus, and 80% do manage to find relief, but as of yet no cure has been found.

The actor William Shatner who starred as Captain James T Kirk in Star Trek was tormented by tinnitus and even considered suicide. He believes it is possible that explosions let off on set of Star Trek could have been the cause of his condition.

You can protect yourself from hearing loss in the following ways. One way to prevent hearing loss is by using earplugs. Exposure to any sounds above 90 decibels from thing like electric drills and motorcycles for a long period can cause a temporary loss of hearing. Exposure to anything over 100 decibels such as light industrial machinery without protection for more than 15 minutes can cause hearing damage. Music concerts and racing cars regularly exceed 110 decibels which is enough to cause permanent hearing loss.

Ear infections must be treated as soon as possible. Ear infections can be present without any pain or swelling. Sometimes the only noticeable symptom is a loss of hearing. Therefore it is always best to talk to a doctor and get a hearing test.

Technorati Tags: ears, hearing, Hearing Aids, hearing loss, hearing test, loss of hearing

Most times, people diagnosed with hearing loss are advised to get hearing aids to help them hear better and give them a life that is as close to normal as possible. In this review, we are going to discuss what you should know about hearing loss, how it occurs and what you can do about it.

There are numerous signs which are indicative of a loss of hearing. A child who is having difficulty hearing or that may be suffering from complete hearing loss will have difficulty speaking or understanding rudimentary language signals. This type of child my not respond if talked to and may not follow directions. They may also have speech that is jumbled and/or hard to understand. The volume of radios and T.V.s may be turned up when your child is listening. If you have a child who exhibits any of these symptoms, then you should probably take them in to see their primary care physician so they can get the proper diagnosis and treatment.

There’s less of a likelihood of hearing language delays or muddled speech in adults with hearing loss. However, this type of person may have to ask people to repeat themselves often. Household members might be frequently asking the individual to turn down the television, and there will be an inability to hear the telephone ringing.

You may also see that the person suffering with this condition must look at the individual speaking to them in order to understand what they are saying, and they may not get a joke’s punch line because they haven’t heard the full story. Social gatherings may become uncomfortable for the individual plagued with hearing loss, so they may try to avoid these situations and the embarrassment that goes with them. An adult with these symptoms should consult an audiologist for evaluation and to discuss treatment choices.

A portion of a hearing examination will be concerned with discovering the cause and type of hearing loss that a person is suffering. The type of hearing loss will be determined by where in the ear, the hearing loss started. By identifying the specific source of the loss, it is easier for an audiologist to pinpoint a treatment that will best address a patient’s needs. Conductive hearing loss is one variant of this particular condition. When you have conductive hearing loss, sounds can’t get to the middle ear or inner eardrum after entering the outer ear. Conductive hearing loss may frequently be traced to a precise cause, such as some blockage in the ear canal.

If there is actual damage to the inner ear, then this is called “sensorineural” hearing loss. It is considered permanent loss because there are no medical treatments to address the problem at this time. Unilateral hearing loss refers to hearing difficulties in one side only. Many children have unilateral hearing loss, which can make it much more difficult for them in school, socially and developmentally. Unilateral hearing loss is not always easy to diagnose and sometimes a root cause cannot be found.

If you or your child has this type of hearing loss, then once it is found, there are many treatment options available. Conductive hearing loss is usually treated easily, but it typically needs done by a professional. A medical expert should be consulted for removal of wax build up that has caused a blockage that is restricting an individual’s hearing.

Hearing aids are devices that go in or around your ear. Hearing aids these days are not big and bulky like those of the past, and they can easily fit into the ear, unobtrusively. In more severe cases, a cochlear implant may be an appropriate treatment. This is a surgical procedure and takes out parts of the ear that are damaged and replaces those damaged parts with healthy tissues that will help the hearing impaired person hear again.

Hearing loss is a common problem in people of all ages, but help is available. If you suspect you are suffering with hearing loss, see an audiologist right away for an accurate diagnosis and treatment options.

Technorati Tags: Hearing Aids, hearing test, hearing tests australia, loss of hearing

For more serious cases your doctor will want you to talk to a hearing specialist called an audiologist. Audiologists are equipped with all the latest devices that can determine what is actually causing your hearing loss. This article will explain some causes of hearing loss that you may be experiencing.

You may think that hearing loss typically is a result of issues with the inner ear, however this is not consistently true. Hearing loss can be caused by anything that blocks the ear canal, but if it is an outer ear problem you can diagnose and treat the problem extremely easily. For example, earwax blockage or obstructions in the ear are easy to see and remove.

It is also quite easy to diagnose injuries and infections, many of which are also easy to treat. Problems that occur at birth or abnormal growths can be diagnosed easily, and even though they sometimes need surgery to fix, the outcomes are usually good. Outer ear conditions usually trigger conductive hearing loss. This type of hearing loss is almost always curable. The key is getting a diagnosis early on so that way the treatment can be non-invasive.

Often times, it is the middle ear that causes hearing problems. The conditions which affect the inner ear are usually treated using medication or surgery. There are times that infections can lead to a temporary hearing loss as a result of the swelling and inflammation associated with them. A commonly seen middle ear problem involves fluid in the ear, which can be caused by many things. Other more serious middle ear complications that end in hearing loss come from birth defects and tumors, or otosclerosis, a genetic condition that involves the bone around the middle ear.

Many hearing problems are the result of conditions affecting the inner ear. Some of the disorders of the middle ear, such as otosclerosis, can affect the inner ear as well. Another source of hearing loss is head injuries, which can cause disturbances of the inner ear.

Getting older often results in hearing loss that begins with the hearing nerve, the inner ear, and sometimes, both. A gradual hearing loss that fluctuates in intensity over time may be a condition called Meniere’s syndrome. If this disorder is treated, hearing loss can be halted. Exposure to constant, loud noise can also result in hearing loss that begins in the inner ear, and nerve related problems can affect the inner ear and lead to hearing loss.

One of the most difficult types of hearing loss to treat effectively starts in the inner ear. Depending on the type of hearing problems you are experiencing you can solve them through medical treatments although some will take time and others cannot solve the problem completely.

Hearing conditions can usually be cured, however, if you don’t treat them, they can result in a significant loss of hearing. You should consult your primary care physician right away if you feel like you could be having trouble with your ears. Some symptoms include dizziness, ear discomfort, or loss of hearing. In order to stop and reverse hearing loss you need to attack the problem before it gets too out of control.

Technorati Tags: Hearing Aids, hearing loss, hearing problems, hearing tests

Losing the ability to hear can make life extremely difficult for older people, although help does exist out there. If someone is given a proper diagnosis, their hearing loss can be treated. As we get older, it’s expected that our bodies will experience changes. Hair color changes, we slow down, and our senses are dulled.

While we tend to just adjust to our new abilities or difficulties, it can often be very disappointing to lose your hearing. Sometimes, people don’t want to seek out help for hearing loss because they are embarrassed. It can be quite hard to communicate with people, leading them to refrain from things they used to like.

Depression, loneliness, and feelings of being misunderstood are common with hear loss. But if a person is properly diagnosed, they can get the treatment they need to learn how to live with their hearing loss. All it takes are a few lifestyle adjustments.

When sound is cut off from the eardrum and inner ear, it is called conductive hearing loss. Certain physical conditions, like excessive ear wax, excess bone development, or a middle ear infection can result in conductive hearing loss.

When your inner ear or auditory nerve becomes damaged, you start to undergo sensorineural hearing loss. This hearing problem can also be caused because of long exposure to loud noise or problems in genetics.

Central auditory dysfunction is an uncommon problem that happens when there is damage in nerve centers in the brain. Unlike other forms of hearing loss, it affects how speech is understood instead of how it’s heard.

In any of these situations, hearing problems could arise. It could be difficult to interpreting speech, especially when background noise is present. Your constantly asking people to repeat themselves. Some sounds can seem annoying or disjointed. You might even hear a frequent roaring, ringing, or hissing in your ears. You no longer like to watch TV or attend social events, since you aren’t able to hear as well as you used to.

If you suspect that you are suffering from hearing loss, you should see your doctor. After your issue is identified, a course of action will be determined based on your kind of hearing loss. Surgery or the removal of impacted hearing wax may be able to restore your hearing partially or even completely.

Hearing aids are recommended quite often. Audiologists can be consulted to find out which hearing aid will work ideally for your particular situation.

A number of sufferers could find help through amplification contraptions for phones and TVS, or by learning how to read lips. Lip reading is a technique of word comprehension achieved through looking at lip, face, and body motions.

If you can limit the amount of background noise you experience from televisions and stereos, the better you’ll be. It’s also helpful to be straightforward with people about your hearing problem. This will make communication less of a burden.

You might be acquainted with a person who is hard of hearing. If you are, you can help them out by trying these tips. Talk normally but not to fast. Do not over enunciate. Exaggerating your speech may make it difficult to recognize visual cues, and it can also distort speech sounds.

Make sure your lip movements are visible by speaking in a well-lit location. Don’t speak while eating or chewing or covering your mouth.

Be patient if the person isn’t getting what you’re saying – just repeat until they get it. If you’re talking about the person with hearing loss, be sure to include them in the conversation. Being open with a hearing-impaired person can dispel misgivings and any sense of isolation.

Technorati Tags: Hearing Aids, hearing tests

[Before|Prior to|Just before] explaining [further|additional] how sinusitis and ear [infection|an infection|virus|illness|infections] are connected, I will explain them [one|1|a single|just one|one particular] at a time, beginning with sinusitis, then moving on to ear [infection|an infection|virus|illness|infections]. When [one|1|a single|just one|one particular] is suffering from the cold, flu, or allergies, there tends [to be|to become|being|for being] stuffiness [in the|within the|inside the|inside|from the] sinuses. The stuffiness is caused [by the|through the|from the] sinuses. They [produce|create|make|generate|develop] mucous in an [effort|attempt|endeavor] to clean the sinus tissue from the [dirt|dust|debris] and [bacteria|bacterias|microorganisms|microbes] [breathed in|inhaled]. Whenever the sinuses sense impurities or [bacteria|bacterias|microorganisms|microbes], they [produce|create|make|generate|develop] [more|a lot more|much more|additional|extra] mucous. [Sometimes|Occasionally] [this is|this really is|that is|this can be] counterproductive, [because|simply because|since|due to the fact|mainly because] the [bacteria|bacterias|microorganisms|microbes] [may|might|could|may possibly|may well] settle [in the|within the|inside the|inside|from the] sinus tissue and [cause|trigger|lead to|result in|induce] inflammation or sinusitis. The mucous then [gets|will get|becomes] [blocked|obstructed] in [by the|through the|from the] inflammation, and [instead of|rather than] cleaning out the [bacteria|bacterias|microorganisms|microbes], it invites [bacteria|bacterias|microorganisms|microbes] to grow.

[After|Right after|Following] swimming, bathing, playing [in the|within the|inside the|inside|from the] snow, or other water activities, water collects [in the|within the|inside the|inside|from the] ears, and if it [is not|isn't|just isn't|seriously isn't|will not be] [properly|correctly|appropriately|adequately|effectively] cleaned out, it drains [into the|to the] Eustachian tube. [Because|Simply because|Since|Due to the fact|Mainly because] the Eustachian tube is only slightly slanted, even [less|much less] in [children|kids], the liquid [often|frequently|usually|generally|regularly] settles [in the|within the|inside the|inside|from the] Eustachian tube, inviting ear [infection|an infection|virus|illness|infections] and can show up as ear noise. Similar to sinusitis, ear [infection|an infection|virus|illness|infections] can inflame and swell, blocking [further|additional] drainage. Ear [infection|an infection|virus|illness|infections] can [cause|trigger|lead to|result in|induce] dizziness, headaches, ear aches, and other [ailments|health conditions|illnesses|health problems|disorders].

[Consider|Think about|Take into account|Contemplate|Look at] what [happens|occurs] when [one|1|a single|just one|one particular] having sinusitis blows his or her nose, coughs, or sneezes. Where does the air go? [True|Accurate|Correct], [much|significantly|a lot|considerably|very much] [of the|from the|with the|in the|on the] air goes [through the|with the] mouth and nose, but [much|significantly|a lot|considerably|very much] [of the|from the|with the|in the|on the] air pressure goes out toward the ears. That means that [infection|an infection|virus|illness|infections] is also pushed out toward the ears, [making|producing|generating|creating] sinusitis an indirect [cause|trigger|lead to|result in|induce] of ear [infection|an infection|virus|illness|infections].

It also [works|functions|operates] the other way [around|about]. [Infection|An infection|Virus|Illness|Infections] [in the|within the|inside the|inside|from the] ears can also drain down [into the|to the] sinuses, inflaming the sinus tissue and causing sinusitis.

Both sinusitis and ear [infection|an infection|virus|illness|infections] are [surprisingly|amazingly|remarkably|astonishingly|unexpectedly] [simple|easy|uncomplicated|basic|straightforward] to [prevent|avoid|stop|keep|reduce]. [Proper|Correct|Appropriate|Suitable|Right] and [frequent|regular] cleaning [of the|from the|with the|in the|on the] ears with Q-tips will [prevent|avoid|stop|keep|reduce] liquid from draining [into the|to the] inner ear, inviting [infection|an infection|virus|illness|infections] to settle [in the|within the|inside the|inside|from the] Eustachian tube or other tissue. Preventing sinusitis is just as [simple|easy|uncomplicated|basic|straightforward]. Just as we wash our hands throughout the day to [prevent|avoid|stop|keep|reduce] [bacteria|bacterias|microorganisms|microbes] and disease, we [should|ought to|must|need to|have to] wash out our nasal passages with nasal spray on a [regular|normal|frequent] basis. This [cleans|washes] out germs that enter the [body|physique] [through the|with the] mouth and nose. In [using|utilizing|making use of|applying|employing] nasal spray, [one|1|a single|just one|one particular] [should|ought to|must|need to|have to] [keep|maintain] in mind that studies have shown xylitol [to be|to become|being|for being] a [natural|normal] [bacteria|bacterias|microorganisms|microbes] repellant that [one|1|a single|just one|one particular] [should|ought to|must|need to|have to] [look|appear] for as the leading ingredient in nasal spray. [Because|Simply because|Since|Due to the fact|Mainly because] [it is|it's|it can be|it really is|its] sugar [free|free of charge|totally free|cost-free|no cost], it also reduces the [ability|capability] of [bacteria|bacterias|microorganisms|microbes] to leave behind damaging acids.

Technorati Tags: Ear Noise

For those considering getting a hearing aid or replacing their analogue aid, digital hearing aids are a huge improvement. The traditional type of aid simply amplifies the incoming sounds, all at the same level. Modern technology has improved on this with digital hearing aids.

They take the sound, dampen the background noise and boost the sound of the person speaking to you.So even when it’s very noisy around you the conversation won’t be drowned out and you can focus on what’s being said.

Along with this you’ll find that sounds are a lot clearer and, if you are used to using an analogue aid, there is a lot less distortion and interference.

Another feature that many digital hearing aids have is the ability to use induction loops. You’ll find hearing loop systems in many public places including theatres, cinemas and even checkouts. By turning the aid to the ‘T’ setting you’ll be able to pick up the sound of people speaking such as an actor on a stage. Their voices are picked up by a microphone, which is sent to the induction loop which sends the sound directly to your hearing aid. This allows you to have a night out at the theatre and be able to hear exactly what’s being said.

And if you’re putting off getting a hearing aid because you think it will big and ugly then don’t worry. Some are so small they fit invisibly inside the ear canal and other types are small enough to go largely unnoticed by the people around you.

A lot of people are reluctant to do anything about their failing hearing. But you can improve you life greatly if you are able to hear properly once again by using a hearing aid. Just remember to change your digital hearing aid batteries on a regular basis.

Technorati Tags: aid, deaf, digital, hearing, induction, loop

What happens when you wake up in the morning. Do you use an alarm clock? If this is the case at some point it just won’t be loud enough to rouse you from your deep slumbers. Sometimes you’ll hear it, sometimes you won’t. And if you hearing gets worse the alarm will stop waking you up all together.

Fortunately there are alarm clocks available that are designed for those who have hearing problems. Not only are these clocks extra loud but they vibrate to shake you awake. So you can go to bed knowing that your vibrating alarm clocks will get you up on time in the morning. Our hearing is something that most of us take for granted.

Then there’s the phone problem. These days we rely heavily on using our phones to keep in contact with our nearest and dearest. If you’ve reached the stage when you’ve turned up the volume on your phone to the maximum your next step is to look at hard of hearing phones.

Such phones not only have extremely loud ringers but you can amplify the phone’s volume so you can hear what’s being said to you. You may have to look around to find one but they are available. If you go for something like Geemarc amplified phones you won’t go too wrong as they have a long established reputation.

Don’t forget doorbells. You’ll want to know when someone has come to visit. Extra loud doorbells are available as are one with portable devices that you can carry around with you. When someone rings your doorbell the device will vibrate to let you know someone is there.

Having hearing problems doesn’t mean you have to feel cut off from what you used to do. There’s plenty of new technology out there to let you lead as normal a life as possible.

Technorati Tags: alarm, deaf, hard_of_hearing, hearing, impaired, phone

You may have heard that drinking a little alcohol reduces tinnitus symptoms in some people. You may also have heard that drinking a little alcohol increases tinnitus symptoms in some people. Surprisingly, both those reports are correct.

In 1995, the Welsh Hearing Institure decided to find out the truth of the matter. The results of their study weren’t easy to interpret. Why? 22% of the people in the study found that drinking increased their tinnitus. 16% found that drinking reduced their tinnitus. The other 62% reported no effect. What does this tell us?

Actually, this tells us a lot. First, it tells us that for most of us, moderate alcohol consumption is unlikely to affect our tinnitus one way or the other. But if it does, the effect could be good or bad. While I haven’t seen any definitive research into why the results came out this way, I can speculate based on what I know about tinnitus in general. For people who benefit from alcohol, it is likely that stress is one of the causes of their tinnitus. That’s because a small amount of alcohol can reduce your stress levels. And reduced stress can reduce tinnitus symptoms.

It is less clear why modest consumption of alcohol would increase tinnitus effects. One possibility is that alcohol does seem to act as a stimulant for some people. Stimulants frequently increase tinnitus symptoms.

Heavy drinking, on the other hand, will almost surely increase tinnitus. With all the bad, bad effects that a heavy drinking bout causes in your body, the results will almost surely be bad for your ears too.

Will Drinking a Bit of Alcohol Hurt or Help Your Ringing Ears?

It is relatively easy to figure out whether alcohol increases or decreases your tinnitus symptoms. But first, let me make this clear: In no way am I suggesting that you start drinking as a way to treat your tinnitus! But if you already drink, we can do an experiment to discover whether or not the way you drink now in any way contributes to your hearing issues.

To find out how your current drinking patterns affect your tinnitus, you simply need to take some notes. The next several times you have alcoholic beverages, be alert to how intense your tinnitus is after you drink. Make some notes of how it seems.

Next, if you’re feeling up to it, stop drinking altogether for a couple of weeks and make note of your general level of tinnitus. Between them, these experiments will teach you everything you need to decide whether there is an alcohol and tinnitus connection for you.

To learn more about how food and drink can affect your tinnitus, and how both fit into a holistic plan that can cure your tinnitus at last, click here.

Technorati Tags: alcohol increases tinnitus, cure your tinnitus, Tinnitus Cure, tinnitus miracle, tinnitus symptoms

This is not just true of this one individual case as I have seen it in other instances too this was the worst example because nearly everyone in the family were doing it too. Are these people stupuid themselves or is there actually a reason behind it?

People really need to be edcuated on this because there are so many people out there that think deaf people are also dumb and this is not the case at all. How must it feel to get treated like a fool is beyond me all I know is that I think that it is disgusting.

So the main thing to remember is that unless you know for a fact that the deaf person you are talking to is also suffering from a mental condition there is no way that you should be talking to them like they are stupid.

If you are deaf then look into hearing aids West Sussex and if your not but are worried like into a hearing aid assessment

Technorati Tags: fair treatment, family, hearing