MIAMI – University of Miami researchers are investigating a potential advancement in hearing loss.
The team, led by Dr. Suhrud Rajguru, is testing a revolutionary cochlear implant that uses infrared light to possibly expand the sound range for millions of people who need these devices in order to hear.
“These allow us, instead of putting in 20 channels, put in 50, 100, or even more channels, so now patients who are limited with traditional cochlear implants with their ability to perceive sounds and noise or speech, certain words, or appropriate music, they can actually benefit from this technology,” Rajguru said.
UM is one of only three sites involved in the five-year study funded by the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.
Also in today’s health news, gray hair isn’t just a sign of age, it can also be a sign of stress.
“We often joke about stressful events turning your hair gray, but in reality, stress has been scientifically shown to accelerate the graying process,” said Dr. Susan Albert with the Cleveland Clinic.
The good news, Albert said, comes from a recent small study suggesting that the graying process can be reversed by eliminating stress through relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation and journaling.
Albert said if stress becomes too hard to control, don’t be afraid to reach out to a professional for advice because the long-term impacts on overall health are far greater than gray hair.