Matt Lauer of Today Show Gets Hearing Evaluation

Great video which shows how the high noise levels in our world are causing hearing loss in younger people.

Matt Lauer gets his hearing tested by an audiologist.

There is also a 39 year-old, who has significant hearing loss related to listening to loud music with headphones.
This man also is fit with some discreet hearing aids which you can't see when he is wearing them.
The clip shows some of the newer generation of advanced discreet hearing devices.

There are so many new options, its nice to see something on network television about this. Enjoy!

If you can't use the link, just copy and paste the address into your browser.
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/38932880#44087745

Olive Oil May Help Prevent Strokes in Elderly

 Healthy brain function is key to good speech understanding, especially in noisy and difficult listening environments.  Strokes can cause devastating damage and loss of function.  

The article below is taken from the Lee Swanson Research Update and discusses how including a good quality olive oil may help prevent strokes.

August 2011

Well-known in the kitchen as a light and tasty way to liven up food, olive oil also has been said to offer protective effects against many potentially dangerous cardiovascular risks like high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol.
New research suggests consuming olive oil may thwart strokes in older individuals. A study was authored by Cecilia Samieri, the University of Bordeaux and the National Institute of Health and Medical Research in Bordeaux, France. This trial involved 7,625 participants (ages 65 and older) who had no previous history of stroke and were from three French cities: Dijon, Bordeaux and Montpellier.
During the study, researchers assessed participants’ olive oil use, which was identified as those who used olive oil intensively, moderately or not at all. Several other risk factors for stroke were also taken into consideration, such as physical exercise, diet and body mass index.
Likewise, after more than five years, the group reported a total of only 148 strokes. Individuals who used olive oil on a regular basis (for both cooking and for a dressing) showed a 41% lower risk for stroke in contrast to those who did not include olive oil as a part of their diet. "Stroke is so common in older people and olive oil would be an inexpensive and easy way to help prevent it,” according to Samieri.

Neurology; Published online ahead of print.

Antioxidants May Slash Risk of Hearing Loss

We continue to hear about the importance of antioxidants and health. 
The article below was published in the August 2011, Lee Swanson Research update.  The original article, was published online ahead of print publication by the Journal of Nutrition, Health, and Aging.

Increased intakes of antioxidant vitamins A and E may significantly reduce the risk of hearing loss, according to a new study from Australia.
People with the highest average intakes of vitamin A had a 47% reduced risk of moderate or greater hearing loss, compared to people with the lowest average intakes, scientists from the University of Sydney reported in The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging. In addition, increasing dietary vitamin E intakes were linked with a 14% reduction in hearing loss.
The researchers, led by Professor Paul Mitchell, note that reactive oxygen species may damage the inner portion of the ear associated with hearing, therefore leading to a hypothesis that antioxidants may counter this damage and reduce age-related hearing loss.
"Our cross-sectional findings supported this hypothesis; specifically, higher dietary vitamin E intakes were associated with a reduced likelihood of hearing loss," they wrote.
Hearing loss is the most common sensory disorder in the United States, affecting more than 36 million people.
The research adds to other observations from Prof. Mitchell’s lab, with a previous report supporting a role for omega-3 fatty acids to reduce hearing loss (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 92:416-421).
For the new study, the Australian scientists analyzed data from 2,956 people participating in the Blue Mountains Hearing Study. Dietary intakes of a range of antioxidants, including alpha- and beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene, vitamins A, C and E, and iron and zinc, were assessed using a food frequency questionnaire.
Results showed that, over five years of study, both vitamin A and E were associated with reductions in the risk of hearing loss, but no significant associations were observed for dietary intake of other antioxidants.
"[The result for vitamin A] is biologically plausible," said the researchers, "given that vitamin A is known to scavenge singlet oxygen, and as singlet oxygen contributes to the formation of lipid hydroperoxides, the removal of singlet oxygen prevents lipid peroxidation."
"Future prospective studies with larger numbers and longer follow-up will be useful to establish whether antioxidants are potential, modifiable factors that could reduce the incidence of age-related hearing loss.
"There is also a need for high-quality randomized controlled trials of long duration to determine whether auditory benefits are derived from treatment with antioxidants," they added.
The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging; Published online ahead of print.

Folic acid may be needed to avoid hearing loss in the elderly

Age-related hearing loss affects millions of Americans.  It is estimated that 30% of Americans age 65 and over suffer from some degree of hearing loss.
A recent study in the December 2010 issue of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, shows a link between low blood levels of folic acid in elderly people and high-frequency hearing loss. High frequency hearing loss is very common in the elderly and tends to cause speech to sound unclear and difficult to distinguish.

The study was performed on 126 elderly Nigerian men and women above 60 y.o. who had no medical conditions.
Although the study focused on individuals in developing countries where malnutrition is common, it is well-known that many of the elderly in industrialized countries also have poor eating habits and nutrition.

Folic acid can be found in dark green leafy vegetables.  It is also available in supplement form.
Apparently, it's not just for women looking to have healthy babies.  As it seems to support the nervous system, we may all benefit from folic acid.

Please consult your healthcare professional before using any supplement to insure it is appropriate for you.

Note: Some individuals due to genetics, cannot process regular folic acid supplements and need a different form.  One such product is called metafolin.  But there others. Google the topic.
iherb.com sells a variety of products and tends to discount their prices.
 Keep your hearing healthy!

Vitamin E and Aspirin May Protect Against Hearing Loss

Antioxidant research is currently a very hot research area. It is being investigated for a wide variety of medical conditions and to improve overall health and longevity.  One exciting area of investigation is the use of antioxidants to prevent hearing loss.

Results of an animal study conducted in 2005, showed that Vitamin E and  salicylate (aspirin) could be effective in reducing noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). This was true even if the treatment was administered as much as three days past noise exposure.

Recent research seems to implicate free radicals as an important factor in NIHL. These free-radicals are formed when the ear is exposure to high noise levels.
Antioxidants such as vitamin E, can actually scavenge free radicals and prevent the damage they would have caused to the inner ear. By preventing or minimizing this damage, more of the hearing is preserved.

Since animals which had the treatment before exposure showed the most benefit, it would seem that maintaining a sufficient level of vitamin E in the body during times of high noise exposure, would probably prove helpful. Although aspirin is presently used as a preventative for people with certain heart conditions, it should be used with caution.  Aspirin has its own potential risks and side effects, which should be discussed with your healthcare provider. Hopefully more clinical research will be done which can help us to understand how humans might best use aspirin in relation to hearing protection.

Research is continuing, especially to reduce hearing loss in military personnel.  I look forward to future studies which will determine optimal doses and types of antioxidant therapy.
For now, eating fruits and vegetables which are high in antioxidants can be a good step, as well as a daily multi-vitamin which contains vitamin E and other beneficial antioxidants.

A tip for those who just can't seem to get their fruits and vegetables in:  fresh-made fruit and vegetable juices.  You can make good-tasting combinations which are full of antioxidants and you can take them on the go.
I will talk more about fresh juices in a future post.



The original study:

Yamashita D, Jiang HY, Le Prell CG, Schacht J, Miller JM, Post-exposure Treatment Attenuates Noise-Induced Hearing Loss. Neuroscience 134: 633-642, 2005

Welcome to the blog

Hello Everyone,
My name is Steve Cuddy and I am a certified audiologist here in Fort Mill, SC. I love teaching and I am eager to share lots of cool information on hearing, hearing loss, and how hearing affects learning and other brain functioning. 

We will also discuss the latest digital hearing aid technology and how sound and music are being used therapeutically to aid learning, concentration, and even with helping children to reach their developmental milestones.  I also welcome your questions and topic suggestions.

I hope you will check back often and learn more about our amazing world of sound and hearing!