Hearing International

Featured image for “On Vacation this Week (But Here’s an Oldie-but-Goodie!)”
Oct. 17, 2016

On Vacation this Week (But Here’s an Oldie-but-Goodie!)

Robert Traynor
This week I am on vacation, please enjoy one of my favorite recent posts that deals with the Stapedius of Muscle Cars! See you next week! Bob The Stapedius of Muscle Cars
Featured image for “Causative Gene for Sensori-Neural Hearing Loss”
Oct. 12, 2016

Causative Gene for Sensori-Neural Hearing Loss

Robert Traynor
What if we could find out what really causes sensori- neural hearing loss?  The more we know of its origin, the more information we can digest as to how to cure it. Better Hearing Institute (BHI) (2016) summarizes the prevalence of sensori-neural hearing loss in the US: 3 in 10 people over age 60 have hearing loss; 1 in 6 baby
Featured image for “Autism Spectrum Disorder:  New Research in Early Diagnosis”
Oct. 05, 2016

Autism Spectrum Disorder: New Research in Early Diagnosis

Robert Traynor
 According to the National Institute on Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) (2016), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) refers to a group of complex neurodevelopment disorders characterized by repetitive and characteristic patterns of behavior and difficulties with social communication and interaction. A diagnosis of ASD now includes several conditions that use to be diagnosed separately:  Autistic Disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise
Featured image for “New Research in Single Sided Deafness”
Sep. 28, 2016

New Research in Single Sided Deafness

Robert Traynor
Audiologists realize that the loss of hearing in one ear, single sided deafness (SSD), is more common and more troublesome than most people realize. SSD can be caused by a number of things, from viral infections or thrombi to brain tumors  and is currently incurable and difficult to treat. While the resulting hearing symptoms of SSD vary from one patient to another,
Featured image for “The Art of Jurassic Love Songs”
Sep. 20, 2016

The Art of Jurassic Love Songs

Robert Traynor
If you have been to Denmark and paused for a walk through the jewelry stores along the Strøget in Copenhagen or elsewhere in Scandinavia, you will find amber.  So what is Baltic Amber?  Amber is the fossilized resin of 150-million-year-old conifer trees, usually pines. The most sought-after amber comes from the Baltic region and is a translucent golden color.  Less common is white “bone
Featured image for “The Stapedius of Muscle Cars”
Sep. 13, 2016

The Stapedius of Muscle Cars

Robert Traynor
A 2012 blog on air bags at Hearing International ended with the statement, “Sensorineural hearing loss due to air bag deployment is rare, and there have been only a few reports in the English literature.  Audiologists know, however, that 140 dB of intensity is the threshold of pain and these intensities can cause hearing loss under some conditions. At Hearing International we
Featured image for “The “Ear in a Dish” Project”
Sep. 07, 2016

The “Ear in a Dish” Project

Robert Traynor
There are specialized cells in the inner ear called sensory hair cells that detect sound. As most audiologists and otolaryngologists know, these hair cells are susceptible to damage by loud noise, ototoxic drugs, genetic mutations or aging, which can cause profound hearing loss.  Since these hair cells do not regrow after being damaged, intense research efforts have been made into discovering how they develop and
Featured image for “ABA’s CH-AP™ Training Certificate for Preceptors: Shaping the Future of Audiology”
Aug. 31, 2016

ABA’s CH-AP™ Training Certificate for Preceptors: Shaping the Future of Audiology

Robert Traynor
Some countries have chosen to educate audiologists in a physician model.  In this model audiologists become physicians first then do a residency in the field of audiology.  Hinchcliff (2005) describes the audiological physician as a medical, non-surgical specialty entrusted with the investigation, care and management of patients with hearing and balance disorders. In these countries, the relationship of the audiological physician to an ear, nose, throat surgeon is analogous to
Featured image for “The Shorthanded Giant”
Aug. 24, 2016

The Shorthanded Giant

Robert Traynor
Historically, shorthand or “short writing” dates back to the ancient Egyptians and many forms have developed over the centuries. It is basically a  system that, depending upon the language and culture, uses phonetics and symbols or abbreviations for words and common phrases, which can allow a well-trained person  to write as quickly as people speak.  At one time, shorthand was considered an essential portion of secretarial training
Featured image for “A New Look at Cochlear Physiology”
Aug. 16, 2016

A New Look at Cochlear Physiology

Robert Traynor
Those of us who taught anatomy and physiology of the auditory mechanism in the 1970s have changed our lectures on auditory physiology a number times in the past 40 years or so.  As new research is conducted, new procedures invented, and knowledge becomes greater, it’s more evident that our theories of how things work require modification.  Such is the lot of the scientist and especially