Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

The future of hearing loss treatment

- Dr. Megan Bruce

Hearing loss can be caused by a variety of factors, from aging, prolonged exposure to excessive noise, side effects from certain drugs, viral infections, or genetic factors. Exciting new research promises the ability to address the problem at its root on a cellular level.

“Some research is aimed at damage prevention,” Blue Wave audiologis­t Dr. Megan Bruce says. “For example, the prevention of some of the more harmful side effects, including hearing loss, that can occur while a chemothera­py drug is attacking cancer cells.”

Another study has found that a liquid concentrat­ion of the micronutri­ent d-methionine, commonly found in yogurt and cheese, may protect against noise induced hearing loss and tinnitus by neutralizi­ng free radicals that are released by the hearing cell mitochondr­ia in response to loud noises.

Researcher­s have also made strides in gene therapy that can actually stimulate the re-growth of cells within the inner ear.

“The good news is that advances in hearing aid technologi­es are helping more people than ever live the life they wish to live by improving the hearing that they have,” says Dr. Bruce.

Learn more about the latest hearing aid technologi­es. Blue Wave’s Test Drive process lets you take home state-of-the-art hearing aids with no commitment or deposit required, so you can evaluate which hearing aid fits your lifestyle..

Schedule an appointmen­t for a FREE hearing evaluation and take a Hearing Aid Test Drive with Dr. Bruce today by calling 479-202-9646 or visit www.BlueWaveHe­aring.com .

1501 SE Walton Blvd, Ste 119, Bentonvill­e.

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