General
Hearing Loss
Preventing Falls - [10/22/08]
Summary: Falls are a serious health concern for millions of Americans. Some risk factors for falls include mobility difficulties, depression, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis, and hearing loss. Tips for avoiding falls include getting annual physical exams, consuming diets with adequate amounts of calcium and Vitamin D, not smoking, avoiding excessive alcohol consumption, exercise, keeping homes safe from hazards, and wearing shoes with no-skid soles.
Comment: Every year more than 11 million Americans fall and injure themselves, resulting in 368,000 hip fractures last year. Seniors and those at risk for falls should follow the tips and guidelines issued to prevent falls. Making small changes in lifestyle can protect those with hearing loss from falls and injuries.
Read article - HealthNewsDigest.com October 22, 2008
Mulitple Genes Linked to Hearing Loss - [10/17/08]
Summary: A new study has suggested that the genes that normally cause our body's cells to auto-destruct, may be linked with the same genes that cause age-related hearing loss. Though genetics play a part in age-related hearing loss, scientists have not been able to pinpoint one of the more 100 genes that are known to cause deafness.
Comment: Age-related deafness or hearing loss is very common throughout the United States, and because research is continuing to try to find the reason for these conditions, besides genetics, there is hope for a breakthrough soon.
Read article - Medical News TODAY October 17, 2008
Patients Misunderstand Written Screening Tests - [10/14/08]
Summary: The majority of physicians require patients to answer written questions while in the waiting room to visit the doctor. However, a new survey has revealed the gap between doctors and patients in the process of answering the written questions. Because of the difference in literacy between patients and physicians, most patients are confused, or don't understand most of the questions. According to Dr. Master, one of the authors of this survey, the predominant reason for this is illiteracy.
Comment: Illiteracy is becoming more common in American which is causing great problems to physicians. Not only is there a problem with illiteracy but also with patients who are innumerate. By answering the surveys to the best of your abilities, you will receive better diagnosis or treatment of hearing loss.
Read article - Medical News TODAY October 14, 2008
Internet Consulted More Often Than Doctors - [10/12/08]
Summary: New market research shows that over the past year more adults went to the internet to get health information than consulted a doctor. This trend may likely be the product of an increasing consumer comfort in using the web to find reliable medical information. In addition, rising costs of healthcare coverage and visits to the doctor may be adding to the preference for first looking for information online.
Comment: The impacts of this trend, as well as others, will be discussed in an online seminar entitled "Is TV Dead? How the New New Media Changes Pharmaceutical DTC Advertising". The event is scheduled for October 14th at 11am EST and October 16th at 3pm EST.
Read article - Medical News Today. October 12, 2008.
Read article - Register for the Seminar
Vitamin D Linked to Overall Health - [10/10/08]
Summary: Vitamin D has been linked to improved overall health. This vitamin affects 36 organ tissues in the body including bone marrow, breast, colon, intestine, kidney, lung, prostate, retina, skin, stomach and uterus tissues. It has also been linked to improving immune systems, insulin secretion, heart health, blood pressure, muscle, brain activity, and decreased risk of cancer. For most adults 200-600 IU of daily vitamin D is recommended, but some experts recommend up to 2000 IU daily.
Comment: Vitamin D has previously been thought to improve bone health, but this study shows that it can affect all areas of health. By increased intake of vitamin D people with hearing loss can experience improved health.
Read article - Medical News TODAY October 10, 2008
Medicare Eliminates Coverage for 10 "Reasonably Preventable" Errors - [10/02/08]
Summary: New regulations, which will take effect next Wednesday, have Medicare halting payment for 10 errors which they have deemed "conditions that could reasonably have been prevented." Expected to affect hundreds of thousands, the new rules will mostly likely not result in a major reduction in expenses.
Comment: This new decision comes on the heels of announcements by four state Medicaid organizations last year in which they eliminated 28 "never events", preventable errors, from coverage. The trend seems to be growing and could have negative ramifications for millions of Americans. Among others, healthcare professionals have begun expressing concern about the decision.
Read article - Medical News Today. October 2, 2008.
Americans Affected by Hearing Loss - [09/30/08]
Summary: Hearing loss is often attributed to growing older, but over half of the hearing impaired in America are under the age of sixty-five. Because the number of people with this condition is increasing, the American Academy of Audiology has introduced the annual National Audiology Awareness Month and National Protect Your Hearing Month, starting October 2008. "This initiative will expand the Academy's efforts to educate the public about audiology, hearing loss, noise-induced hearing loss, and the importance of hearing screenings," says M. Patrick Feeney.
Comment: There are 36 million Americans that are affecting by hearing loss, and the percent of these Americans under the age of 65 is rapidly increasing. More children and teens are using ear buds with personal listening devices, at higher levels. This increases the ear drum damage and can progressively lead to hearing loss.
Read article - Medical News TODAY September 26, 2008
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Struggle to Obtain Healthcare - [09/30/08]
Summary: Struggles in communicating with healthcare professionals have led to thousands of deaf patients unable to receive adequate care. Awareness and communication support in regards to interaction between deaf patients and those with whom they rely for health care are significantly lacking. The issue is so great that in the UK almost 28% of deaf patients report avoiding visits to their general practitioner because of poor communication.
Comment: Physicians are urged to "listen to patients and respond to their concerns and preferences" and "give patients the information they want or need in a way they can understand".
Read article - Science Daily. September 30, 2008.
Efforts to Reduce Ethnic and Racial Disparities - [09/29/08]
Summary: This article outlines current efforts are being made to reduce racial and ethnic health care disparities. These include the Respira program, which focuses on providing asthma education and outreach to Hispanic communities. Another program is a lecture that seeks to improve knowledge of blood pressure management and diabetes. Other efforts involve grants to increase levels of minority students in medical programs, and campaigns to increase medical literacy in minority communities.
Comment: Racial and ethnic disparities exist in most areas of medical care including hearing loss. These disparities can often be dangerous to the health of minority people. These programs are aiming to close the gaps in health care, which can result in better care for people with hearing loss.
Read article - Medical News TODAY September 29, 2008
Breakthrough for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People - [09/29/08]
Summary: Research with fruit flies has added significantly to our understanding of how our ears function. Similarities between the way fruit flies mechanically amplify sounds and the workings of our own ears mean that genetic techniques already in place for the study of fruit flies can now be used to better understand our own ears.
Comment: These findings have been called "an important advance that paves the way toward a clear understanding of the genetics of deafness". The new questions raised by this study will guide scientists down the correct path to identifying the molecular and genetic basis for the way we hear.
Read article - Medical News Today. September 29, 2008.