AudiologyOnline Takes You Around the Web in 60 Seconds! - Vol. 5, No. 10

AudiologyOnline uses the latest in internet scanning and retrieval technology to find hearing health-related news and web sites from around the world. This information is then compiled and summarized by our President & Editor-in-Chief, Paul Dybala, Ph.D., and Associate Editor, Kristi Albers, M.A., so that you can take a virtual trip around the "hearing health world wide web" in 60 seconds!

This edition of "Around the Web" (ATW) includes: Wisconsin gets loopy, dog gets hearing aids, move over batman humans echolate and bionic eye close to reality.

If you have an item to add to this list, please send it to the Editor via the Contact Us section of the web site.

How Loud is Your iPod? - 10/12/2009
livescience.com
A recent study of 31 college students, more than half of the participants listened to their portable music players at levels that could, over a prolonged period of time, lead to hearing loss, say researchers from the University of Southern Mississippi.

Cochlear implant inventor chosen for neuroscientific research - 10/12/2009
news-medical.net
Dr. Michael Merzenich, PhD - renowned neuroscientist, university professor, cochlear implant inventor, brain plasticity expert and tech entrepreneur - was formally inducted in the Institute of Medicine (IOM)in Washington, D.C.

Tips for coping with hearing loss - 10/12/2009
htrnews.com
Here are 10 tips people who are hard of hearing (HOH) can use to help them improve communication with others, as adapted from "Tips for HOH People" by Steve Barber.

Just in time for Halloween: Human Echolation Allows Ears to "see" in the Dark - 10/12/2009
healthyhearing.com
Move over batman - human echolation is gaining respect in aiding those with vision problems. "Seeing" with our ears just like bats.

Looping in Wisconsin - 10/11/2009
livinglakecountry.com
Applause is given to the looping efforts in Wisconsin by one hard of hearing writer/blogger.

Therapy dog needs hearing aid - 10/11/2009
dailyitem.com
A therapy dog, known for his work at Ground Zero in New York City, will be undergoing tests to determine if he will be a good candidate for a hearing aid.

Bionic eye funding denied to Queensland researchers - 10/10/2009
news.com.au
BLIND Queenslanders have lost a chance to have their sight restored after state scientists were mysteriously cut out of the Federal Government's $50.7 million bionic eye fund.

At UC, dogs now hear this! - 10/09/2009
cincinnati.com
A service dog with hearing loss will receive hearing aids from University of Cincinnati's FETCH Lab. The lab's staff has already successfully fitted one dog with wireless hearing aids.

Larosa Family Supports Cincinnati Walks - 10/09/2009
cincinnati.com
One teenager benefited from early intervention with her hearing loss. She and her family believe it was the care she received from her local Children's hospital that have made her recovery possibly.

Say What? 8 Ways to Lose Your Hearing - 10/09/2009
abcnews.go.com
According to a new study, the noise associated with driving a convertible can damage hearing over time.

Hearing aids for Democratic Senators - 10/09/2009
thespoof.com
Hearing aids being "spoofed" is funny, no matter which side you are on.

AARP offers hearing help - 10/08/2009
floridaweekly.com
The AARP Hearing Care program by HearUSA has launched a program in Florida designed to help Americans aged 50 and older who have untreated hearing loss. The Florida launch is part of the initial phase of a nationwide rollout.

As Teens Plug In, Parents Fret - 10/08/2009
usnews.com
Parents' worry lists are typically long nd get longer when their children become teenagers. And high on many lists, it seems, are fears about hearing loss.

Cochlear implants help deaf children hear - 10/08/2009
ftleavenworthlamp.com
The first time James Markert was really able to talk to his father came while Lt. Col. Jim Markert was on a satellite phone in Iraq. James, now 11,was born deaf. When he received a cochlear implant in 2002,it took James time to catch up with his speech skills.

Musical therapy lifts spirits, eases pain and anxiety - 10/08/2009
indystar.com
In Indianapolis, music therapists Chris Barton and Amy McConkey Robbins created a program called Tune Ups for children with hearing loss, autism and language impairments.

Novel hearing device tops Cleveland Clinic's list of Top 10 Medical Innovations for 2010 - 10/07/2009
medcitynews.com
A removable hearing device that treats patients who have lost hearing in one ear is No. 1 on the Cleveland Clinic's list of Top 10 Medical Innovations for 2010. Although company/device names are not given, based on the description it is suspected the device is SoundBite by Sonitus Medical.

Are married white men in convertibles doomed to deafness? - 10/06/2009
cnet.com
Researchers this week revealed the results of some demographics studies of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), something they say had yet to be studied to this extent. If you're a married white male driving a convertible, listen up while you still can.

Fight hearing loss with high-tech hearing aids - 10/05/2009
thenewstribune.com
The good news is new technology has produced more effective and less visible devices to improve hearing. These aren't your granddad's hearing aids. Devices are available in a variety of colors, from pink to black, and an array of styles, depending upon the wearer's preferences and hearing needs.

Fight hearing loss - 10/05/2009
theolympian.com
Boomers regain control: Ears exposed to more racket than ever benefit from new devices.

Cure for temporary tinnitus found in Sligo - 10/05/2009
imt.ie
Two 18 year old's and their professor claim to have found a cure for temporary tinnitus. They use sound and wave theory — using a low hum to physically stimulate the cochlear hairs back into their original upright position. As pointed out by a comment from the BTA,this "cure" has not undergone clinical scientific trials as of yet.

Boomers regain control: Ears exposed to more racket than ever benefit from new devices - 10/05/2009
theolympian.com
Aging bodies and an increasingly noisy world are combining to damage the hearing of baby boomers. The good news is new technology has produced more effective and less visible devices to improve hearing.

Personal noise exposure could lead to deafness - 10/04/2009
fwdailynews.com
iPods have been life changing for some. The EU recently adapted laws protecting consumers from NIHL. In the US we have laws in the workplace but outside of that we are on our own.

Deaf musician inspires artists with disabilities - 10/04/2009
abclocal.go.com
Dame Evelyn Glennie is the first person in musical history to successfully create a full-time career as a solo percussionist. She is also profoundly deaf.

Many Medical Devices Still Taxed Under Baucus Health Bill - 10/02/2009
foxnews.com
A provision in the Democrats' proposal to partially fund health care reform would tax medical devices and replacement parts like pacemakers, hearing aids and porcelain teeth, worrying critics who say the higher costs will be passed on to consumers.

Cash For Clunkers Program Inspires Local Companies - 10/02/2009
cbs13.com
Cash for Clunkers inspires other businesses. One hearing aid business is offering if you bring in an old hearing aid, they offer cash back on a new pair.

Does this hearing aid make me look fat? - 10/01/2009
redlandsdailyfacts.com
I recently saw a print ad for a new hearing aid that is disguised as one of those high-profile Bluetooth devices that all the tech-savvy people hang on their ears. "Improve your hearing while enhancing your image!" promises the ad, which shows a beaming man wearing his impossible-to-miss Stealth Secret Sound Amplifier.

Eye test better than MRI in stroke - 10/01/2009
spectroscopynow.com
US researchers have demonstrated in a proof of principle that a short and simple assessment of eye movements in suspected stroke patients can distinguish new strokes from other less serious disorders better than magnetic resonance imaging. The technique demonstrated only in a small-scale study could help screen patients complaining of dizziness, nausea, and spinning sensations.

ASU community debates proposed European iPod laws - 10/01/2009
statepress.com
Zarin Mehta, an ASU audiology professor, said there is little concrete evidence that extended exposure to loud noise can cause permanent hearing loss, but limiting volume is a good idea until there is further research.

New Hearing Aid Makes a Fashion Statement - 09/30/2009
campingtipsandtricks.com
Siemens Vibe is covered in a news story of one receptionist who has found success and fun with changing out her Vibe colors and attitude.

Barfing and the brain: tips for dealing with motion sickness - 09/30/2009
sltrib.com
When our bodies experience motion sickness, they are -- oddly enough -- responding the way they would to poison (i.e., back when humans were eating wild berries, regurgitating the toxic ones helped us survive). The motion sensors in our inner ear perceive that something's out of whack (as they do when vestibular information and visual information are in conflict), so they send out an APB for the body to remove the "poison."

New Study Shows That Disorders Affecting the Vestibular System, Such as Vertigo and Meniere's Disease May Decrease Bloodflow To The Brain - 09/30/2009
ent.about.com
A new study reported in journal BMC Neuroscience shows that the organs of the inner ear, or the vestibular system such as Meniere's Disease or other disorders causing vertigo, are directly linked to the amount of blood flow to the brain.

Loud machinery increases hearing loss - 09/30/2009
wwlp.com
Working with loud machinery can definitely hurt your sense of hearing. The more someone is subjected to loud engines, the more likely you are to have long term hearing loss.

Sonova Says in Discussions With German Federal Cartel Office - 09/30/2009
bloomberg.com
Sonova Holding AG said the German Federal Cartel Office is in the process of investigating into the German hearing instruments market.

Turn down the volume! - 09/29/2009
wwlp.com
A news station in MA covers iPods and risk of hearing loss in teenagers.

Hearing Loss A Growing Problem For Adults - 09/29/2009
cbs4.com
In the days of iPods, iPhones, and surround sound systems punishing eardrums with a sonic fury, it's not surprising that 37 million adults have some form of hearing loss. But, hearing loss doesn't just impact your quality of life, but can alter your overall health.

iPods to be fitted with noise limiters under new EU rules to protect hearing - 09/29/2009
dailymail.co.uk
In EU, MP3 players such as iPods will have to be made with built-in limiters that restrict their decibel level, in a move designed to protect children and teenagers.

Doctors back volume limits on MP3 players - 09/28/2009
abc.net.au
Australian doctors would like to see new mandates implemented in AU similiar to what was implemented in EU.

Study finds balance issues are widespread in older people - 09/28/2009
boston.com
John Hopkins study found - to their astonishment - that more than one-third (35 percent) had vestibular dysfunction, an inability of the delicate balance system in the inner ear to function properly.

Is your iPod damaging your hearing? - 09/28/2009
theglobeandmail.com
The EU is taking steps to protect consumers from NIHL. Will other countries follow?

Children's injuries turn strong woman into a weak mama - 09/27/2009
theolympian.com
Diagnosed hearing loss in one woman's son has made her a stronger woman.

Hearing aid company exits bankruptcy, plans growth - 09/26/2009
bizjournals.com
Hearing aid company Zounds Inc. has been purchased out of bankruptcy and will continue its growth plans, but at a more moderate pace.

Burst of Technology Helps Blind to See - 09/26/2009
nytimes.com
Those with vision loss may soon have an option. Similar to CI technology, the bionic eye would restore vision in those who have experienced blindness.

Benevolent Tech: 10 Amazing Gadgets for the Hearing Impaired - 09/25/2009
gadgetcrave.com
To those without a sense of sound, navigating the world can be a great challenge at times. While the world is a very visual place, hearing can be a sense we often take for granted. As we explored 10 great technologies for the blind, we have dug up 10 amazing gadgets for the hearing impaired.

Surviving the recession - invest in yourself! - 09/24/2009
cincinnati.com
In tough times invest in yourself, your health, spirituality, positive outlook and social connections for a happier, healthier you! When it comes to investments, hearing aids, when necessary are as good as gold!

Hearing loss hasn't dampened artist's dream - 09/24/2009
nola.com
Since she was a young child she knew she wanted to be a professional artist. She has never allowed her hearing loss to keep her from her dreams.

Hearing loss not a handicap for 9-year-old football player - 09/24/2009
daytondailynews.com
Diagnosed at age 5 with hearing loss, this little boy has never allowed it to slow him down.

Blue Whales Suffering From Hearing Loss - 09/23/2009
digitaljournal.com
New research shows that blue whales have to 'sing' and 'chatter' longer and more often in order to compete with noise from ships, oil drilling and other forms of noise pollution.

Hearing implants approved - 09/23/2009
arizona.edu
Dorie Shapiro will be able to listen to an iPod for the first time in November, with the help of a new cochlear implant, the Nucleus 5 system, which was approved on Sept. 8 by the Food and Drug Administration.

Criticism for the Q-Tip Tax - 09/23/2009
thedcwriteup.com
Early drafts of the new health care bill propose levying taxes on medical consumer items. These items are perceived to be anything from Q-tips to band-aids to hearing aids.

Advanced Bionics Launches Automated Service for Replacement of Sound Processors Used with Cochlear Implants - 09/23/2009
prweb.com
AB has launched an industry-leading automated service for replacement of sound processors called Processor Direct. The new program streamlines the process by which a sound processor can be replaced, thereby shortening the time a cochlear implant recipient is without sound.

Balance organs affect brain blood flow - 09/22/2009
esciencenews.com
While a role for the vestibular system in the autonomic response to position has been documented, a recent study demonstrated a direct effect of otolith stimulation on cerebral blood flow. This is the first study of its kind to demonstrate this.

Tired of saying 'huh' all the time? - 09/21/2009
webstercitynews.com
One writer states: "Is vanity preventing you from wearing hearing aids, my baby boomer friend? Get over it. You haven't looked 25 for a while anyway."

Stimulus grant funds hearing research - 09/21/2009
msu.edu
A Michigan State University researcher is using a federal stimulus grant of more than $460,000 to better understand how humans comprehend speech, work that could have far-reaching implications in the treatment of a number of maladies that include dyslexia and autism.

A 'sign' of the times - 09/21/2009
cm-life.com
Communication disorders instructor Kendra Miller does not view the inability to hear as a disability. Miller, one of three sign language professors at Central Michigan University that cannot hear, lost her hearing as a child because of progressive hearing loss.

Quota Club shares the joy of hearing - 09/19/2009
journal-advocate.com
"We share" is the motto of Quota and their mission involves doing just that. Quota's mission is to help disadvantaged women and children. In doing that, they help low-income people and children purchase hearing aides.

Limbaugh Donates $500K To Ear Institute - 09/17/2009
radioink.com
Rush Limbaugh has donated $500,000 to the House Ear Institute in Los Angeles in memory of Antonio De la Cruz, MD, who treated Limbaugh beginning in 2001 for the sudden hearing loss due to auto-immune inner ear disease.

UA professor's invention may help diagnose inner ear disorders - 09/17/2009
tuscaloosanews.com
In the words of the fictional candymaker Willy Wonka, a new device on the University of Alabama campus can go sideways and slantways, backways, frontways, upways and downways.

Boomers in Denial About Hearing Loss - 09/17/2009
fosterfollynews.com
A new Applied Research study sponsored by Siemens called "The Cost of Hearing Loss" has found that 72 percent of boomers believe that their hearing is average or better.

New Hearing Implant Most Advanced Yet - 09/16/2009
cbs4denver.com
A retired airline mechanic from Parker is learning to enjoy all the sounds he's been missing for years. He was recently fitted with the most advanced Cochlear implant now on the market.

Army says new earplugs will save your hearing - 09/10/2009
armytimes.com
The new Combat Arms Earplug is made of the same washable plastic as the current earplug and has the same "triple flange" construction to keep it in place.

But instead of removing the plug to operate a dial that regulates the amount of sound entering the ear canal, the new earplug uses a rocker switch that is operated without removing the earplug.

Traffic Noise May Raise Blood Pressure - 09/10/2009
kcra.com
The effects of noise go way beyond damaging our hearing.

Diagnosing and Developing Language and Speech Skills with Your Child - 09/08/2009
fox10tv.com
Hearing loss is often a cause of language and speech delays. Parents are encouraged to keep tabs on hearing abilities.

Phonak to donate hearing aids to Zarqa school - 09/08/2009
specosys.com
Phonak recently donated hearing aids to two schools ran by Her Majesty Queen Rania.