Hope for Tomorrow, Solutions Today
About 14% of the world’s adults experience tinnitus: a persistent ringing in the ear (some people hear screeching, hissing, static, whooshing, roaring, or even sounds like ocean waves).
For many, the condition becomes debilitating. As of right now, there’s no known cure.
But science is always working on new ways to fight back. First, a quick refresher on tinnitus. Then we’ll dive in and check out some exciting developments in tinnitus research.
Now, off we go!
Tinnitus Basics
What is tinnitus?
Tinnitus sounds like a disease, but it’s not. That phantom noise only you can hear? It’s a symptom.
It means something else is going on, an underlying health problem. Tinnitus has been linked to many other health issues, and it can be hard to determine the exact cause, but the general consensus is tinnitus results from some sort of damage to your auditory system.
To explain:
When you hear, you are actually experiencing the result of a complex process of translation that begins with your outer ear and ends with your brain. It involves:
- Three distinct regions in your ear (which are filled with tiny, delicate structures)
- A very sophisticated bundle of nerves
- The hearing region of your brain
Each of these pieces of the process has their own complicated job to perform. It’s when something goes wrong at one of these steps that we experience issues like hearing loss — and tinnitus.
Is It “TIN-uh-tis” or “tin-EYE-tus”?
The internet offers plenty of answers to that question. You’ll discover that dictionaries disagree, language experts disagree, and medical experts disagree. Each with a more passionate, well-reasoned defense than the last.
How is anyone supposed to know the right answer?
As far as we’re concerned, you can pronounce “tinnitus” however you’d like. We just want to provide you with information what will help you get relief from your tinnitus.
Are there different kinds of tinnitus?
Tinnitus used to be classified as subjective or objective.
Subjective tinnitus was a sound that only you could hear. Objective tinnitus was a much rarer type of tinnitus — your provider could hear the sound in question.
But a growing number of providers have embraced a new approach:
- An internal sound arising from your auditory system is tinnitus
- An internal sound that doesn’t arise from your auditory system is a somatosound
A somatosound is a noise coming from inside your body, such as your heartbeat or a clicking jaw joint. In some cases, your provider can hear these noises when they examine your ear.
For example, if you hear a ringing noise, it’s probably due to damage in your auditory system, so it’s tinnitus.
If you hear a clicking noise, it probably arises from a jaw joint disorder (or something similar), so it’s a somatosound, not tinnitus.
How is tinnitus diagnosed?
Tinnitus is generally self-reported. In other words, your doctor or hearing professional has no way of knowing you have tinnitus unless you tell them — so it’s important to speak up if you think you may be experiencing it.
Your provider will try to determine an auditory cause, such as:
- Excessive noise exposure
- Medications harmful to the inner ear
- Wax buildup
They may also do an audiological evaluation. All of this helps them understand the situation and circumstances so hopefully they can treat it.
What are the options for treating tinnitus?
As already mentioned, there’s no cure for chronic tinnitus. But some people have successfully minimized its debilitating effects through a variety of methods, including:
- Sound therapy, which uses a tone or a pleasant sound, like ocean waves, to mask your tinnitus
- Habituation, in which a sound is matched to your unique tinnitus and played at a low level to help change your reaction to your tinnitus
- Hearing aids, which help with the hearing loss that most likely accompanies your tinnitus
- A combination of these — many hearing aids now have built-in tinnitus-treatment functionality
Though these methods only mitigate the effects of tinnitus, it’s good to remember that science is still on the case.
Exciting Tinnitus Developments
Is this the real cause of tinnitus?
There is currently no known origin for tinnitus, but the long-held assumption is it’s an issue with the auditory system.
Steven W. Cheung, M.D., and a team of University of California San Francisco researchers, however, are using advanced neuroimaging to better understand what drives the condition.
Dr. Cheung’s work over the last decade has led him to focus on one area that might be the culprit — the caudate nucleus, an area of the brain that isn’t part of the auditory system.
What is the caudate nucleus?
Among its other jobs, it serves as the logistics center for your senses.
It’s like a gate, blocking certain sensory perceptions from entering your brain’s neural network. It also allows other sensory perceptions through, processes them, and integrates them with the other information your brain takes in.
The caudate nucleus is supposed to block out phantom noises. Dr. Cheung suspects it isn’t doing that in people with tinnitus.
His 2020 study testing this hypothesis was encouraging. He used deep brain stimulation of the caudate nucleus and significantly reduced tinnitus symptoms in most of the study participants.
But why the differences? Why did some participants see relief, while others didn’t?
Follow-up studies helped Dr. Cheung realize that treatment efficacy depended on the neural networks around a person’s caudate nucleus.
In other words, the neural network around a person’s caudate nucleus is personalized to that person and responds differently — uniquely — to treatment such as the one provided by Dr. Cheung.
Cheung and his colleagues are at work on a study to further improve diagnostic methods and, hopefully, develop a less invasive tinnitus treatment.
Tinnitus and clinical trials
When standard treatments don’t work, cutting-edge research often presents the best hope. So why do so few tinnitus patients enroll in them? Relatedly, why do so many withdraw mid-trial?
A potential study by Power Life Sciences Inc., a company trying to remove barriers to successfully accessing clinical trials, will explore reasons people with tinnitus do or don’t participate in clinical trials, possibly yielding insights that might aid future investigations.
Virtual reality and tinnitus
There may also be help on the technological front. A 2016 study suggested that a virtual reality-based tinnitus treatment can be at least as effective as standard care.
An interesting French study slated to finish in spring 2024 looks to further validate those results.
Study participants each receive a “tinnitus avatar,” a sound closely matching their unique tinnitus sound.
During eight different sessions, the participant spends time freely wandering in a variety of 3D virtual environments that include environmental sounds.
They can hear their tinnitus avatar, but they can also see it as a sparkling spot. Using a wand, they can control their tinnitus avatar in the virtual environment, including masking it by moving closer to other sounds.
The researchers hope to show that by interacting with the tinnitus avatar as if it were a standard sound, patients can recalibrate their perception of tinnitus, decreasing its intrusiveness.
Plenty to Be Excited About
There is a lot to be hopeful about, between the studies, the integration of technology, and even just the basic understanding of how it functions.
And though science is hard at work on these developments, there are effective options for management available now.
If you have questions about tinnitus, or what management options might be available to you, drop us a line on our contact page.
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New Study: Hearing Aids Help in Fight Against Dementia
in ComorbidityRecent Investigation Reinforces Importance of Improved Hearing for Brain Support
Often we talk about ties between hearing and brain health. With both the ears and the brain playing such active roles in sound perception and human connection, it’s no wonder that problems with one of those critical functions could potentially affect the other. This includes the risk of dementia, which can rise significantly with hearing loss.
That’s why we’re excited to talk about new research further showing the potential power of hearing aids in fighting dementia. Using hearing technology may help reduce the odds of developing this debilitating disease by nearly 50%, per a study published over the summer in U.K. medical journal The Lancet. We’re going to break it down, but first let’s dive a little into the brain’s role in hearing.
How Do Ears and the Brain Work Together?
You may have come across the saying, “You hear with your brain — not your ears.” Your ears actually do have a co-starring part in hearing, but often people don’t realize just how prominently the brain figures into the equation. Like your cardiovascular and circulatory systems that collaborate to move blood throughout the body, ears and the brain also work together toward a common goal.
It’s a pretty fascinating process. The ears receive sounds before transforming them into electrical signals that are then sent to the brain for processing. The brain, recognizing and interpreting the sounds, uses the ears to help orient body position, focus the listener’s attention on desired sounds, and separate relevant information from competing noise.
With hearing loss, however, the ear has less ability to sense sound and transmit those signals through the auditory nerve and on to the brain for processing. In turn, straining to hear can tax the brain, which may have to work harder to process sound. That may reduce the brain’s capacity for other crucial functions, such as thinking, concentrating, and remembering.
What Is Dementia?
Dementia is a progressive neurological disorder typically leading to reduced cognitive functioning, such as the capacity to reason, recall information, and even communicate. The condition, which affects over 55 million people on a global scale and sees close to 10 million incidences annually, is often associated with aging but isn’t necessarily an inevitable part of growing older.
Sometimes people may confuse dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Though related, they’re not synonymous. “Dementia” is an umbrella term for severe cognitive decline. Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia, characterized by progressive brain changes leading to memory loss, cognitive decline, and shifts in behavior.
Dementia takes not only a significant cognitive, physical, and mental toll but also an economic one. Public-health researchers estimate annual global costs of 1.3 trillion U.S. dollars as of 2019, with about half associated with informal caregiving by loved ones. The disorder ranks as the seventh leading cause of death and significantly contributes to the prevalence of disability and dependence among seniors.
What’s the Link Between Hearing Loss and Dementia?
In a previous post, we discussed some of the ties investigators have shown between hearing loss and cognitive decline in older adults. The connections are pretty alarming, with data showing evidence of accelerated brain shrinkage in the presence of hearing loss. Research has also shown other risks such as up to five times’ greater odds of dementia and earlier onset of cognitive decline.
Earlier this year, a Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health-led study further illustrated the heightened risk that hearing loss can pose regarding dementia. They announced findings that older adults with more severe forms of hearing loss have a significantly higher risk of dementia. The investigation uncovered a 61% greater prevalence of dementia over those with normal hearing.
The study was encouraging in reinforcing the difference hearing aid technology can make. Like an increasing number of studies, the findings showed potential benefits of better hearing in keeping the threat of dementia at bay. According to the investigators, hearing aid use was associated with a 32% lower prevalence of dementia among those with moderate or severe hearing loss.
What Does the New Study Say About Hearing Aids & Dementia?
The great news about hearing aids’ potential role in staving off cognitive decline continues! One of the latest developments is that hearing intervention for older adults may stall the loss of thinking and memory capabilities by nearly 50%. It’s a pretty significant finding in the battle against cognitive decline and dementia, which continues to increase as the global population ages.
The study, “Hearing Intervention Versus Health Education Control To Reduce Cognitive Decline In Older Adults With Hearing Loss in the USA (ACHIEVE): A Multicentre, Randomised Controlled Trial,” was published over the summer, offering a whole new window into the importance of hearing aids in helping preserve brain health.
It not only served as the largest-ever randomized, controlled clinical trial of its kind — with close to 1,000 people ages 70 to 84 — but focused on the crucial question “Can treating hearing loss reduce cognitive decline over three years in older adults with hearing loss and without substantial cognitive impairment?”
Researchers in the publicly funded study found that:
Several theories and possibilities about the “why” abound, but the study wasn’t quite conclusive on exactly how the hearing interventions potentially slow or reduce cognitive decline in older populations. Hearing intervention, however, was noted by the study’s authors as underused, virtually free of medical risk, and proven to curb cognitive decline.
7 Tips to Fighting Dementia
No single route to preventing dementia exists yet, but researchers are always working to uncover its many mysteries. In the meantime, you can take steps to help reduce your risk now. Take action such as:
As you can see, taking care of your hearing also helps take care of your brain. Together, we can help turn the tide of dementia risk by helping support one of your most important senses. So don’t wait. If it’s been a while since your last hearing checkup or listening seems more difficult than it used to be, contact us to book a hearing evaluation today!
Lenire™ Tinnitus Device Approved in Canada: What It Means for You
in TinnitusOnline Hearing Tests: Can They Help?
in Hearing loss, News, TechnologyThe Era of DIY Health Screening
The do-it-yourself era of health screening is here, along with greater convenience and consumer empowerment. You can check your blood pressure from a pharmacy kiosk, test yourself at home for HIV or colon cancer, or even screen your hearing online.
But do online hearing tests work? Let’s take a closer look, including the pros, the cons, and the bottom line for keeping your hearing in top shape.
Some Pros
People wait an average of seven years before making an appointment with a hearing care provider once they suspect they might have a hearing loss. Imagine how much sooner they might seek professional help if that first step — a hearing test — could be taken at home.
In that respect, quality online hearing tests do offer some solid benefits. They’re:
Some might even provide a reasonable estimate of your current hearing ability. In studies of how several online or app-based home hearing tests measure up against the sound booth of a hearing care professional, though, results have varied.
Some Cons
No context
Even the most reliable online hearing test can be misinterpreted. If your results indicate a hearing loss, you need more context to understand the what and why.
For example, earwax buildup or debris in your ear canal could be the cause. It could be a symptom of issues in the sound-processing areas of your brain. But buying hearing aids online or at a big-box retailer won’t solve the problem — it will just mask the symptom.
Not Comprehensive
Many online hearing screenings are similar to the one you probably had in elementary school: You’re played a series of sounds through earphones, and you indicate whether you can hear a given tone. It’s called the pure-tone air-conduction threshold test, and it measures the quietest sound you can reliably hear at least 50% of the time.
This is important data, but it only scratches the surface. It doesn’t explain how well you hear speech, how well you understand it, or whether the hearing loss is due to an injury in your ear. Online testing doesn’t provide the comprehensive evaluation you need for a more complete look at your hearing wellness.
A professional evaluation includes an inspection of your ears to rule out physical causes of your hearing loss, such as earwax buildup, blockage by debris, or damage to your ear. Then a battery of important tests measures things such as:
The Bottom Line
A reliable home hearing test can be an important hearing-health wake-up call, especially if you or a loved one is on the fence about seeing a professional.
But remember, it’s only showing you a symptom — it doesn’t pinpoint the underlying problem or provide solutions for your unique needs. Only an audiologic evaluation gathers nuanced data about your auditory system and offers ways to improve your specific hearing difficulties.
Are you noticing difficulty communicating in your everyday activities? Did you take an online test that indicated potential hearing loss? Don’t wait — contact our caring team for a comprehensive evaluation today!
6 Fun Facts About Ears and Hearing
in Hearing HealthWho Knew Hearing Was So Fascinating?
Until you have a problem with your hearing, it’s easy to overlook it. But the world of ears and hearing is far more interesting than you might have thought.
Parrots in World War I
Parrots can pick out very subtle differences in pitch, tone, and rhythm. They’re also excellent at locating where a sound is coming from. They’re so skilled, in fact, they stole one duty from the soldiers during World War I: Parrots were kept on the Eiffel Tower in Paris to warn of approaching enemy aircraft.
Teeny Tiny Bones
The smallest bones in your body are in your middle ear. They’re called the hammer, anvil, and stirrup (or the malleus, incus, and stapes, for you science fans). They’re critical for hearing, because they help sound information get from your eardrum to your inner ear. All three can together fit on a penny!
The Curious Case of the Chorda Tympani
After ear surgery, some people experience changes in their sense of taste! A nerve called the chorda tympani connects your front taste buds to your brain. This nerve also passes very close to your eardrum. During surgery on the middle ear, one common complication is damage to the chorda tympani nerve. A taste disorder — for example, a persistent metallic taste at the tongue tip — is the most common result. Symptoms usually do subside, but it can take up to two years in severe cases.
Ears Aren’t for Everybody
Snakes pick up vibrations from the ground using their jawbones. Some spiders hear using nerve-based receptors on their legs, which pick up soundwaves and send the impulses to their brain. Male mosquitoes use feathery antennae covered in fine hair, which sense sound from vibrating air particles.
In the Loop
You have three small loops in your inner ear, above your cochlea, called semi-circular canals. They’re lined with microscopic hairs and filled with fluid. Every time your head moves, so does the fluid. The little hairs pick up on the movement and communicate it to your brain. Your brain adjusts your body accordingly to keep you balanced.
Your Ears Are Self-Cleaning
Your ear canals produce earwax on purpose! Earwax is antibacterial, and it protects and lubricates your ears. What’s more, your ear canals have a slight downward slope. Your earwax naturally travels toward your outer ear, picking up dirt and debris with it. Sure, we find it gross. But it’s essential for healthy ears!
Hearing-Conscious Costume Ideas
in Hearing HealthThese guidelines can help ensure you hear your best no matter what costume you choose
It’s that time of year again: crunchy leaves underfoot, a crisp chill in the air, beautiful fall colors, apple cider, shorter days and longer nights, and of course, Halloween! With 23% of Americans and 44% of Canadians naming Halloween as their favorite holiday, this is certainly a popular festivity. Dressing up can pose a challenge for folks living with a hearing loss but fear not! These tips can help you avoid common pitfalls and make the most of All Hallows Eve.
Embrace Your Tech
If you wear hearing aids, you may not have thought of incorporating them into a costume, but they’re the perfect accessory for sci-fi themed ensembles. Characters from Star Wars, Star Trek, and the Marvelverse commonly wear high tech gear and futuristic clothing. Your hearing devices will fit right in and add a touch of authenticity that other people’s costumes won’t have. Be careful about attaching anything to your devices, though. While there are many stickers, jewels, and other accoutrements safe for adhesion to hearing aids, homemade adornments could damage them. When in doubt, ask your audiologist!
Hide Your Tech
For some hearing aid users, particularly children, it may be desirable to disguise hearing devices rather than plan a costume around them. This is easily accomplished with a wig, helmet, hat, headdress, or any other piece that covers the ears. Sounds simple enough, right? But hold on — it requires a bit more thought, because you’ll want to avoid anything that presses or pulls on the hearing aid and ensure the easily tangled strands of a wig don’t get wrapped around the tubing. Similarly, the confines of hard plastic or metal headgear (if you’re dressing up as a knight, for example) can potentially create acoustic feedback. While it may not look as impressive, softer materials such as cardboard and foam are better choices.
Optimize Hearing Even Without Technology
Even if you have normal hearing, beware of costumes that may impede communication. Dressing up as Darth Vader might seem like a great idea, but what if you can’t hear well inside that huge helmet? Also consider that any mask covering your mouth will make it more difficult for the people around you to understand what you’re saying. Classic masked horror characters like Michael Myers, Jason Voorhees, and Ghostface don’t do much talking, but if you’re the chatty type and looking forward to mingling at a Halloween party, these may not be the best costumes for you! Choosing a costume that relies on makeup rather than a mask is a better bet for good hearing and communication.
Getting into the spooky spirit doesn’t have to mean missing out on conversation. Call today for a complimentary hearing screening.
Hearing Loss Myths Debunked
in Hearing lossFact or Fiction? Get the Scoop Here.
It’s easy to get the wrong idea about hearing loss — its effects are invisible.
In fact, misconceptions are commonplace, from antiquated stereotypes to wrong assumptions.
These common myths are a great starting point for correcting assumptions and removing the stigma associated with hearing loss.
MYTH: Talk Louder to Someone With Hearing Loss
For someone with hearing loss, volume isn’t the only issue. Lack of clarity is also a factor.
Suppose your car has a damaged speaker, so the sound is a little garbled. When you turn the volume up, it won’t fix the issue. You’ll hear the sounds better, but they will still be distorted.
But how is hearing loss like that?
Your inner ear has thousands of tiny structures called hair cells. They translate the sounds you hear into nerve impulses and send them to your brain.
Aging, loud sounds, and other stressors can damage your hair cells. When that happens, you lose a little of your hearing.
Often, the first sounds to go are those that help you distinguish words. “Cat” starts to sound like “hat,” “bug” like “hug.” You can hear someone’s voice just fine — the volume is appropriate — but what they’re saying isn’t clear.
Over-articulating doesn’t help because it changes natural speech rhythms. Lipreading becomes more difficult, not easier.
If you’re asked to repeat something, say it a different way instead of repeating it.
MYTH: In-the-Ear Hearing Aids Are Better Than Behind-the-Ear Hearing Aids
No hearing aid style is best — the style that meets your unique listening lifestyle is the best for you.
In-the-ear styles address hearing loss from mild to severe. They’re discreet, custom-fit to your ears, and a good option for glasses-wearers or those with nasal cannulas.
Behind-the-ears styles are suitable for mild to profound hearing loss and are ideal for those with less dexterity. They also have a larger battery, for longer battery life. Plus, in-the-ear styles can create a plugged-up feeling you won’t get with an open-fit behind-the-ear hearing aid.
In-the-ear hearing aids are tiny, so there’s less space in which to put electronics. Therefore, in many cases they don’t have all the features available in behind-the-ear styles.
A conversation with your hearing care professional will clarify which style works best for your unique needs.
MYTH: You’ll Notice When You Develop Hearing Loss
As mentioned previously, aging and other stressors damage the tiny hair cells that make hearing possible. As that happens, you lose a little of your hearing ability.
But the damage usually happens gradually, so you likely won’t notice it at first.
Speech might not seem as clear, especially high-pitched voices. Background noise in restaurants might seem more intrusive. Autumn leaves underfoot don’t seem as crunchy.
Then you might start turning up the TV volume. And when did Uncle John start mumbling, anyway?
That’s why family members and co-workers are typically the first to notice you might need a hearing test. It affects them, too.
MYTH: Everyone With Hearing Loss Can Read Lips
Hearing loss is unique to each person who experiences it. It can run the gamut from mild to profound. The technology used could be a hearing aid or a cochlear implant.
People are different ages when they lose their hearing, they get different levels of auditory training, and they have different listening environments. So, some people with hearing loss read lips. Others don’t. It’s most helpful as a complement to any residual hearing.
But it still helps to face people with a hearing loss when speaking, as visual clues are always helpful, regardless of whether they read lips.
Contact us today if you’re ready to get your hearing tested!
Encouraging Tinnitus Research
in TinnitusHope for Tomorrow, Solutions Today
About 14% of the world’s adults experience tinnitus: a persistent ringing in the ear (some people hear screeching, hissing, static, whooshing, roaring, or even sounds like ocean waves).
For many, the condition becomes debilitating. As of right now, there’s no known cure.
But science is always working on new ways to fight back. First, a quick refresher on tinnitus. Then we’ll dive in and check out some exciting developments in tinnitus research.
Now, off we go!
Tinnitus Basics
What is tinnitus?
Tinnitus sounds like a disease, but it’s not. That phantom noise only you can hear? It’s a symptom.
It means something else is going on, an underlying health problem. Tinnitus has been linked to many other health issues, and it can be hard to determine the exact cause, but the general consensus is tinnitus results from some sort of damage to your auditory system.
To explain:
When you hear, you are actually experiencing the result of a complex process of translation that begins with your outer ear and ends with your brain. It involves:
Each of these pieces of the process has their own complicated job to perform. It’s when something goes wrong at one of these steps that we experience issues like hearing loss — and tinnitus.
Is It “TIN-uh-tis” or “tin-EYE-tus”?
The internet offers plenty of answers to that question. You’ll discover that dictionaries disagree, language experts disagree, and medical experts disagree. Each with a more passionate, well-reasoned defense than the last.
How is anyone supposed to know the right answer?
As far as we’re concerned, you can pronounce “tinnitus” however you’d like. We just want to provide you with information what will help you get relief from your tinnitus.
Are there different kinds of tinnitus?
Tinnitus used to be classified as subjective or objective.
Subjective tinnitus was a sound that only you could hear. Objective tinnitus was a much rarer type of tinnitus — your provider could hear the sound in question.
But a growing number of providers have embraced a new approach:
A somatosound is a noise coming from inside your body, such as your heartbeat or a clicking jaw joint. In some cases, your provider can hear these noises when they examine your ear.
For example, if you hear a ringing noise, it’s probably due to damage in your auditory system, so it’s tinnitus.
If you hear a clicking noise, it probably arises from a jaw joint disorder (or something similar), so it’s a somatosound, not tinnitus.
How is tinnitus diagnosed?
Tinnitus is generally self-reported. In other words, your doctor or hearing professional has no way of knowing you have tinnitus unless you tell them — so it’s important to speak up if you think you may be experiencing it.
Your provider will try to determine an auditory cause, such as:
They may also do an audiological evaluation. All of this helps them understand the situation and circumstances so hopefully they can treat it.
What are the options for treating tinnitus?
As already mentioned, there’s no cure for chronic tinnitus. But some people have successfully minimized its debilitating effects through a variety of methods, including:
Though these methods only mitigate the effects of tinnitus, it’s good to remember that science is still on the case.
Exciting Tinnitus Developments
Is this the real cause of tinnitus?
There is currently no known origin for tinnitus, but the long-held assumption is it’s an issue with the auditory system.
Steven W. Cheung, M.D., and a team of University of California San Francisco researchers, however, are using advanced neuroimaging to better understand what drives the condition.
Dr. Cheung’s work over the last decade has led him to focus on one area that might be the culprit — the caudate nucleus, an area of the brain that isn’t part of the auditory system.
What is the caudate nucleus?
Among its other jobs, it serves as the logistics center for your senses.
It’s like a gate, blocking certain sensory perceptions from entering your brain’s neural network. It also allows other sensory perceptions through, processes them, and integrates them with the other information your brain takes in.
The caudate nucleus is supposed to block out phantom noises. Dr. Cheung suspects it isn’t doing that in people with tinnitus.
His 2020 study testing this hypothesis was encouraging. He used deep brain stimulation of the caudate nucleus and significantly reduced tinnitus symptoms in most of the study participants.
But why the differences? Why did some participants see relief, while others didn’t?
Follow-up studies helped Dr. Cheung realize that treatment efficacy depended on the neural networks around a person’s caudate nucleus.
In other words, the neural network around a person’s caudate nucleus is personalized to that person and responds differently — uniquely — to treatment such as the one provided by Dr. Cheung.
Cheung and his colleagues are at work on a study to further improve diagnostic methods and, hopefully, develop a less invasive tinnitus treatment.
Tinnitus and clinical trials
When standard treatments don’t work, cutting-edge research often presents the best hope. So why do so few tinnitus patients enroll in them? Relatedly, why do so many withdraw mid-trial?
A potential study by Power Life Sciences Inc., a company trying to remove barriers to successfully accessing clinical trials, will explore reasons people with tinnitus do or don’t participate in clinical trials, possibly yielding insights that might aid future investigations.
Virtual reality and tinnitus
There may also be help on the technological front. A 2016 study suggested that a virtual reality-based tinnitus treatment can be at least as effective as standard care.
An interesting French study slated to finish in spring 2024 looks to further validate those results.
Study participants each receive a “tinnitus avatar,” a sound closely matching their unique tinnitus sound.
During eight different sessions, the participant spends time freely wandering in a variety of 3D virtual environments that include environmental sounds.
They can hear their tinnitus avatar, but they can also see it as a sparkling spot. Using a wand, they can control their tinnitus avatar in the virtual environment, including masking it by moving closer to other sounds.
The researchers hope to show that by interacting with the tinnitus avatar as if it were a standard sound, patients can recalibrate their perception of tinnitus, decreasing its intrusiveness.
Plenty to Be Excited About
There is a lot to be hopeful about, between the studies, the integration of technology, and even just the basic understanding of how it functions.
And though science is hard at work on these developments, there are effective options for management available now.
If you have questions about tinnitus, or what management options might be available to you, drop us a line on our contact page.
No Bones About It: Osteoporosis May Nearly Double Risk of Sudden Hearing Loss
in ComorbidityYour Bone Health Is Strongly Linked to Your Hearing Health
Hearing loss goes hand in hand with many chronic health issues.
Heart health, dementia, and depression get all the press. But osteoporosis has long been known to affect hearing health.
One long-term study from 2015 linked osteoporosis to a nearly doubled risk of sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
And a more recent study concluded that osteoporosis contributes significantly to aging-related hearing loss.
So what exactly is this potentially debilitating disease that affects about 18% of people worldwide, how might it affect hearing, and what can you do about it?
Let’s dive in.
What Is Osteoporosis?
Your bones constantly renew themselves. As old bone breaks down, new bone is made. Young people’s bodies replenish bone faster than old bone breaks down.
Most people reach peak bone mass around the age of 30. Then, you start to lose bone mass more quickly than you can replace it.
With osteoporosis, you lose too much bone mass. The structure and strength of your bone tissue changes and can lead to bone fractures.
In other words:
Osteoporosis thins and weakens your bones, making you more likely to break one — especially in your spine, hip, or wrist.
Symptoms of osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a “silent disease” — there are no symptoms until a bone is broken.
Affected bones become so fragile that a minor fall from a standing position or normal stress from bending or lifting could lead to a broken bone.
Can I get osteoporosis?
Women and men of all ages and backgrounds worldwide can develop osteoporosis, but the risk for developing it increases with age.
Some other factors include:
But preventive measures can help keep bones healthy, strong, and more resistant to becoming fragile, weak, and brittle:
Does Osteoporosis Cause Sudden Hearing Loss?
Whether osteoporosis causes hearing loss is a tricky thing to determine.
Coincidence or correlation?
Suppose your cat jumps on your lap every morning. Also, your neighbor goes on a walk every morning. They’re clearly related occurrences, right?
Of course not. It’s a clear coincidence. One has nothing to do with the other.
But suppose you notice many dogs at the park on days when many people at the park have sodas in their hands. The dogs and sodas must be related, right?
Does it mean that dog lovers drink more soda? Or that dogs lead to soda sales?
In all likelihood, the number of dogs and sodas both go up because of a third factor — the number of people. The more people there are at the park, the more likely it is that there will be more dogs and more sodas.
In other words, in this example, dogs and sodas are correlated — they’re somehow linked — but in this case, high dog numbers don’t cause soda sales to jump, or vice versa. It’s the number of people that causes both numbers to jump.
Correlation confirmation
For a long time, that’s where scientists have been with osteoporosis and hearing health. They haven’t been ready to say that osteoporosis actually causes hearing loss, but studies have long reported a relationship — a correlation — between the two.
See the 2015 study mentioned at the beginning of this article. Researchers in Taiwan sought to quantify the risk of sudden hearing loss in patients with osteoporosis.
They studied a random representative sample of 1 million participants in Taiwan’s National Health Insurance program. Those with osteoporosis had a 1.76-fold higher risk of developing sudden sensorineural hearing loss than those without osteoporosis.
What about causation?
That brings us to the other, more recent study mentioned at the beginning of this article.
This study followed almost 144,000 women for decades — lots of participants at many ages and stages for a long time, meaning the data collected paints a powerful picture of what’s going on.
They found that “osteoporosis may be an important contributor to age-related hearing loss” and that bisphosphonates — medications that treat osteoporosis — don’t influence development of hearing loss.
Causation is hard to determine with 100% accuracy. The human body’s many systems interact in so many ways that it’s often impossible to claim causation. But this study moves us a lot closer to the goal post.
How are osteoporosis and hearing loss connected?
Right now, there are only hypotheses, with some more accepted widely than others.
One strong possibility involves the bones in your ear. You have tiny bones in your middle ear that are crucial for hearing. If osteoporosis makes them thin and weak, your hearing could be affected.
There are also bones in your inner ear that protect the nerves and hearing cells in your cochlea. If osteoporosis makes the bones weak, these structures could suffer damage, leading to hearing loss.
Another suggested possibility is that your temporal bone, which houses your middle and inner ear, becomes thinner, making those parts of your ear more susceptible to damage.
What Can You Do?
Take good care of your bones — and your ears. A causal relationship between osteoporosis and hearing loss might not be 100% conclusive, but one thing is clear: If you or a loved one has osteoporosis or is experiencing listening difficulties, it’s important to get a hearing check.
So don’t wait. Stay atop your hearing health and help catch any potential changes or problems early. Contact us to schedule a hearing evaluation today. Our caring team is here to help with all your listening needs!
Quick Facts About Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
On the Menu: Deaf-Friendly Restaurants
in CommunityRoad tripping? Keep these spots in mind.
The landmark Americans with Disabilities Act improved equity and access to employment, public accommodations, services, and so much more for people living with diverse challenges, including hearing loss.
Some businesses, however, go above and beyond being simply “ADA restaurants” and ensure a better experience for patrons with hearing or speech difficulties.
For your summer travels, we’ve put together a quick list of restaurants that go the extra mile to put the “c” in “communication.” Keep them in mind as you plan your next road trip!
This popular ice cream stop with several Seattle-area locations — Rhubarb cardamom sorbet, anyone? — includes employees trained in American Sign Language, according to a KOMO News story, creating a more inclusive, welcoming experience.
Introducing Portland’s first proudly deaf-owned restaurant! Opened in June 2022, Pah! “aims to bring together deaf culture with the hearing world.” All their menu items are named after slang words in ASL, including the word “Pah!” — it means “finally!”
The deaf owners of this growing business not only rock sweet and savory crepes —caprese, Mediterranean medley, lemon zest dust, and more — but offer easy ordering with sign language or pointing. They also make it a point to hire community members with hearing loss.
Starbucks opened its first Signing Store in Washington, D.C., and they have several now throughout the U.S. and Asia. Signing Stores employ and provide accessibility for the deaf and hard of hearing, and all employees are required to be proficient in ASL.
Whether you’re ASL-fluent or not, you’re welcome at this pizza-and-more spot owned by a deaf couple and staffed with deaf or hard-of-hearing employees. Options for easy ordering include pen and paper, pointing, and sign language.
Have you tried a ramen burger? Tatsu offers that and so much more. When you walk into Tatsu Ramen in the bustling shopping district on Melrose Avenue, you’re greeted with a screen where you can order and pay. Bonus — this means the usually long line moves quickly.
This local outlet of a national burgers-and-frozen custards franchise installed a bell system at its drive-thru, letting deaf or hard-of-hearing customers alert staff if they need to pull forward and order using a menu form instead.
Making fast food faster, A&W was the first quick-service restaurant chain in Canada to offer customers self-order kiosks. Located at the front of the restaurant, customers can use their debit or credit cards for self-service and bypass the line. A root beer float? Yes, please!
Dal’s Poke (pronounced: poh-kay) serves up fresh Hawaiian Poke bowls. Founder Dal was born Deaf and doesn’t let it stop him from pursuing his passion for cooking. Dal’s experience as a sushi chef shows in the quality of his Poke. As they say in Hawaii, “Komo I ka” — enjoy!
Did You Know?
Know a deaf-friendly restaurant or two that should be on this list? Send us your recommendations!
10 Hearing Aid Myths We’re Busting
in Hearing Aids10 Hearing Aid Myths We’re Busting
Are These Misconceptions Standing Between You & Needed Care?
Most hearing loss can be effectively managed with appropriately fit hearing technology. Yet more than 80% of children and adults worldwide who could benefit from hearing aids don’t use them. That’s at least 1 in 5 people missing out on potentially needed help. Lack of access can play a part, but myths and misconceptions might also get in the way.
We’re breaking down 10 hearing aid myths that can be a barrier to better hearing health. Some of them may sound familiar or even remind you of perceptions that gave you pause about hearing technology. Read on for the facts and a fresh perspective on today’s innovative hearing solutions. They might be just the nudge you or a loved one needs to reclaim the sounds you’re missing.
Fact: Today’s hearing technology comes in a range of budget-friendly technology levels. Plus, financing programs, potential insurance coverage, and even possible leasing opportunities can go a long way. With research linking hearing loss to other conditions such as cognitive decline and increased risk of falling, the consequences of inaction could prove an even bigger cost.
Fact: Millions of hearing aid users — and science — would disagree. We see firsthand the positive effect improved hearing has on our patients and their families, helping people reconnect with the relationships and activities that matter most. Quality hearing aids make it easier to understand speech and other sounds, and research ties hearing aids to better physical, social, mental, and financial health.
Fact: Ugly? Not 21st century hearing aids, which are sleek, small, and — in many cases — virtually invisible. With some 10–11% of people worldwide with what researchers consider “disabling hearing loss” wearing hearing aids, you’ve probably encountered folks wearing them and didn’t even notice. Devices include various styles and colors, and some sit deep in the ear canal or behind the ear, largely out of sight.
Fact: With a little TLC and periodic professional checkups, hearing aid care is easier than you may think. The devices might require some basics — cleaning, changing wax guards, removing moisture or earwax buildup — but cleaning kits, hearing aid dryers, and other accessories help make it a cinch. Plus, rechargeable options eliminate the inconvenience of replacing disposable hearing aid batteries.
Fact: Even babies, some of whom have had permanent hearing loss from birth, wear hearing aids. As a critical public health issue, hearing loss doesn’t discriminate, making it important to have the best hearing aids at any age. If you have signs or symptoms of hearing loss, today’s innovative devices — tailored to your needs by a trained, licensed professional — may be just the solution for you.
Fact: Quality hearing technology that’s well-maintained can last quite a while — on average about three to seven years. Plus, we’re here to help you get the most from your devices for as long as possible through support such as periodic clean-and-checks, repair services, and guidance on easy, home-based DIY care. We also offer extended warranty packages for further peace of mind.
Fact: Nothing takes the place of a proper diagnostic hearing evaluation and professional selection of hearing technology tailored to your hearing level, lifestyle, and key listening situations. Rather than focus on a widget, we’re dedicated to building trust, providing long-term value, and delivering solutions backed by our knowledge, experience, and commitment to your optimal hearing health.
Fact: Hearing aids do amplify sound, which is important, but they also accomplish so much more for your hearing health. They filter out background noise; often have directional microphones that can help you further focus on the sounds that matter; and can connect with wireless mics, hearing loop systems, smartphones, laptops, TVs, and other resources that help you work or play on your terms.
Fact: Binaural hearing, or the ability to perceive sound through both ears rather than just one, plays a critical role in working with the brain to distinguish the source and direction of sounds — commonly known as “localization.” Using two hearing aids not only assists that function but curbs the need for choosing higher volumes on your devices. That’s because lower tones seem louder when the brain has the benefit of both ears.
Fact: Wearable electronic amplifiers, designed to hear environmental sounds for those who don’t have hearing loss, only make a sound louder and are neither regulated nor recommended to treat actual hearing loss. Inappropriate use of PSAPs could even cause or aggravate hearing damage, so it’s best to let your licensed hearing care professional evaluate your hearing and work with you on the best solution for your individual communication needs.
What Do Hearing-Aid Wearers Say?
Hearing aids can feel like an overwhelming step — especially if misconceptions have given you or the people in your life a bit of pause. On average, people who suspect a hearing loss typically wait an estimated seven or more years before pursuing help and might delay getting professionally fitted with hearing aids for over a decade after a hearing-loss diagnosis.
Hearing-aid use, however, has changed countless lives, from babies hearing their parents’ voices for the first time to teens, young adults, and the young at heart reconnecting with the sounds that matter most — whether at home, work, or play. But don’t just take it from us; hear what users have to say through some interesting studies demonstrating the power of hearing aids!
An analysis of the Hearing Industry Association’s MarkeTrak 2022 online survey, for example, found that 64% of hearing aid owners who had gotten their devices in the prior five years reported quality-of-life benefits. The number marked a jump of 9 percentage points from the 2019 version of the survey and a 16-point rise from the 2015 research.
A Eurotrak UK 2022 study by the British and Irish Hearing Instrument Manufacturers also reportedly found a high percentage of responding device users — 95% — associating their hearing aids with an improved quality of life, including social engagement, relationships, and more. Two-thirds of respondents even wished they had gotten their hearing technology sooner.
Similarly, older adults who use hearing aids are more likely to report significant improvement in their physical and mental health, sense of independence, sex life, ability to play sports, and other important areas of life, per a 1999/2000-released study by the National Council on Aging. Notably, family members of loved ones who used hearing aids also reported significant improvements in quality of life.
Knowledge is power, so don’t let myths and misconceptions stop you or a loved one from moving forward on the path to optimal health. Contact our caring team for comprehensive support on your better-hearing journey!