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Tinnitus, a phantom sound produced by the brain, is similar to phantom limb pain. While some people can ignore it, others find it debilitating, highlighting the variability in how our brain circuits handle emotional components.
Dr. Konstantina Stankovic explained that the auditory system can be more sensitive after being in a quiet environment, similar to how the visual system reacts to changes in light. This highlights the importance of gradual exposure to normal sound levels.
Unlike vision correction with glasses, hearing aids do not restore hearing back to normal. They are aids, not solutions, which contributes to the stigma surrounding hearing loss.
The best treatment option for tinnitus currently is a cochlear implant, which improves peripheral function and allows the brain to recalibrate, effectively reducing symptoms for many patients.
The cochlea is a coiled organ where high frequencies are encoded at the base and low frequencies at the apex, illustrating the intricate tuning of the inner ear.
Hearing is crucial not just for communication but also for emotional, relational, and cognitive well-being. Historical figures like Socrates and Helen Keller have highlighted the profound impact of sound on human experience.
The human organ of hearing, the cochlea, is incredibly small, about the size of Lincoln's upper face on a penny, and contains only about 140 microliters of fluid, equivalent to three raindrops.
Current imaging technologies like CT scans and MRIs cannot detect cells in the inner ear due to its tiny size, which complicates the diagnosis of hearing loss.
Hearing loss is a huge problem, affecting 1.5 billion people and disabling half a billion. The World Health Organization estimates another billion will be affected by 2050. This issue is underappreciated and stigmatized, with many living in silence.
Hidden hearing loss can occur even if standard audiometric tests show normal results. This happens when synapses connecting sensory cells to neurons are damaged by loud sounds, leading to issues like tinnitus.