ASHA Members Discuss Research And Implications During 2010 ASHA Convention In Philadelphia
Rockville, MD - November 18, 2010 - Regardless of gender, smokers are at a greater risk for inner ear-cochlear damage than nonsmokers, according to researchers who presented their findings during the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Annual Convention in Philadelphia this week.
According to ASHA member T. K. Parthasarathy and his co-presenters, this knowledge will help audiologists detect changes earlier in their smoking patients' inner ear-cochlear function. Presenters explained that regardless of the number of cigarettes smoked per day, nicotine seems to cause a reduction in the blood supply to the smokers' cochlea, thereby affecting hearing.
This research was presented as part of ASHA's Annual Convention, which took place in November, 2010, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. These important findings are one example of the research being discussed during ASHA's Annual Convention. Audiologists and speech-language pathologists, as well as other speech, language, and hearing scientists, gather every year at ASHA's Convention to share their research with their colleagues. This sharing of information results in better care for the people they serve.
About the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
ASHA is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for more than 140,000 audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists. Audiologists specialize in preventing and assessing hearing and balance disorders as well as providing audiologic treatment including hearing aids. Speech-language pathologists identify, assess, and treat speech and language problems including swallowing disorders.
