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Losing your hearing might limit your chances, make you withdraw from social situations, and lead to emotional issues. a fresh theory regarding crocodile ears. Globally, more than 1.2 billion people suffer from hearing loss. On the other hand, crocodiles can live up to 70 years and have superb hearing the entire time. The ability of crocodiles to produce new hair cells is one explanation, and a study team from Uppsala University is presently looking at this. Hopefully, folks who suffer hearing loss can benefit from knowing crocodile biology. "We can observe that the activation of so-called support cells appears to result in the formation of new hair cells, which is related to the fact that crocodiles have specific cell structures that humans don't seem to have. According to Helge Rask-Andersen, professor of experimental otology at Uppsala University and one of the researchers behind the study, which was just published in the journal Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, ...

Contrary to popular belief, older persons may have improved hearing in noisy social settings. Ever sneer when your grandmother asks you to help clear the table after a meal with the family or gripe when your grandfather cheats during a competitive game of gin rummy? Given the likelihood that people can hear you more clearly than you realize, you might wish to talk less loudly. According to recent studies from Baycrest and Western University, older people may have better hearing in noisy environments than previously believed. Whether it's at a packed restaurant or a crowded family gathering, older folks may enjoy and process conversations better than earlier research have suggested. If this were to be true, it would improve their quality of life and give them the chance to meaningfully interact with people who are going through similar things, which would reduce their risk of developing dementia as social isolation is a risk factor for cognitive decline. Scientists have long hypothe...

Researchers at the University of Auckland in New Zealand are encouraged by "encouraging results" from a clinical study of a mobile phone-based therapy after 20 years of looking for a treatment for tinnitus. 61 participants were randomized to one of two treatments for the trial. The new "digital polytherapeutic" prototype was provided to 31 participants, or half of the group. The remaining half (30 persons) made use of a well-known self-help program that generated white noise. At 12 weeks, the polytherapeutic group on average displayed clinically significant improvements while the control group did not. On August 5, 2022, the findings were released in the journal Frontiers in Neurology. Associate Professor of Audiology Grant Searchfield adds, "This is more significant than some of our earlier studies and is expected to have a direct impact on future treatment of tinnitus." An initial evaluation by an audiologist, who creates the individualized treatment pla...