More People Have Hearing Loss Than Was Previously Thought

Research conducted at the Johns Hopkins Center on Aging and Health in Baltimore has found there are many more people with hearing loss than was previously thought.  Click here to read the full story posted on the CBC’s web site.  According to the World Health Organization (WHO) hearing loss is defined as not being unable to hear sounds of 25 decibels or less in speech frequencies.

New Hope for Tinnitus Sufferers

A joint study conducted at West Texas A&M University has led researchers to a better understanding of tinnitus, and how it may be controlled.  To read about this exciting work click here.

New Executive Director at CHHA National Office

CHHA Manitoba Chapter welcomes Robert Corbeil to his new position as Executive Director at the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association’s National Office.  Mr. Corbeil’s background in non-profit management will be a terrific asset to the organization, and we look forward to working with him.

New Tinnitus Research

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) in the United States reports that researchers have proposed a new theory; that tinnitus may be the result of a breakdown between the brain’s limbric system and the auditory cortex.  Read their report “Tinnitus:  Is This What Happens When the Brain’s Gatekeeper Breaks Down?”  The NIDCD report at http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/news/releases/11/Pages/031611.aspx includes additional links.

Cochlear Implant Recall

Cochlear Limited is undertaking a voluntary recall of the unimplanted Cochlear Nucleus CI500 cochlear implant range. Please see the follwing article for all the details.

http://products.cochlearamericas.com/suspension

TV Ad Volumes Must be Lowered!

If you are tired of having to reach for the remote every time a commerical comes on check out the latest annoncement from the CRTC.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/story/2011/09/13/crtc-ad-loudness.html

Solar Powered Hearing Aids

Designer Andrew Carr has developed a solar-powered hearing aid designed for use in developing nations. Click this link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2011/09/12/medical-inventions.html to read the September 12, 2011 CBC story about this and other innovative medical devices.

Balance Awareness Week – September 18 – 24th

The Vestibular Disorders Association (VEDA) established Balance Awareness Week in 1997 to raise awareness about the importance of balance and inner ear health.  Click here to access an article published in VEDA’s newsletter On the Level in the 2011 summer/fall issue

Neurons talk to themselves?!

According to Professor Larry Roberts at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, describing tinnitus:  “… neurons are meant to talk to each other.  When the ear stops talking to them, usually because of hearing loss, they start talking to themselves and this in turn generates the ringing.“  Read this fascinating article on the Hear It web site about research into the cause of tinnitus.  Additional Hear It articles are available at http://www.hear-it.org/index.dsp

When things won’t stop moving …

Read an interesting article by Randi Bjornstad published by Register-Guard, and posted on the Vestibular Disorders Association (VEDA) website about a condition called Mal de Barquement, a balance disorder that’s triggered by ocean cruises, and sometimes by other forms of travel.  Click here to read the article.