All articles tagged with #hearing
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine urged lawmakers to approve a $67 billion Iran-war funding package to replenish stockpiles, support training, and advance military innovation, but Democrats pressed for a clearer rationale behind backing a conflict they don’t support, noting $75 billion in unspent reconciliation funds and demanding spending controls as a stopgap funding bill advances.
A BBC health feature explains that hearing loss can come from everyday activities, not just loud concerts. It describes how the inner ear works, notes rising risk among younger people, and offers practical protections—high-fidelity or musician’s earplugs, earmuffs, noise-cancelling headphones, and careful volume control—while warning about earwax buildup from frequent earplug use and advising testing hearing at the first sign of difficulty; hair cells don’t regrow, but research may one day restore them.
San Francisco apologized for a July 4 transit meltdown that left Muni and other services overwhelmed by a crowd estimated around 100,000, with buses stuck in traffic and some riders stranded. The SFMTA said their system could not handle the influx and announced an internal review with results public in a month. City supervisors are pushing for a formal hearing to assess coordination with private partners and other departments to prevent a repeat, highlighting issues from overcrowded shuttle buses and long porta-potty lines to disruptions linked to self-driving Waymo vehicles. Mayor Lurie emphasized safety and pledged to work with partners to improve future events.
The DEA told SAM it will not identify Luli Akinfiresoye, a DEA pharmacologist, as a witness for SAM’s case in the upcoming hearing on moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, citing Touhy regulations and potential Privacy Act protections. SAM had sought to question the official about cannabis harms, but the DEA says any testimony would require a formal Touhy request and could be shielded. The hearing, overseen by Administrative Law Judge Derek Julis, runs June 29 to July 15 and has drawn complaints over access, including a push to livestream, which the judge previously barred; multiple lawsuits challenge the process as the government defends the scheduling move that could unlock federal benefits for state-legal cannabis businesses.
DEA’s hearing on moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III will run June 29–July 15, but invitees are limited to opponents of rescheduling, excluding supporters. The proceedings come amid multiple lawsuits and could unlock federal tax deductions, update gun-purchase forms, and expand protections for state-licensed medical cannabis if the rule is enacted.
A sweeping college-sports reform bill faces a pivotal Senate test, as lawmakers convene a hearing with remarks from Sen. Ted Cruz, former Alabama coach Nick Saban, and SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey to debate how best to support student-athletes and ensure fair competition, signaling whether the legislation will move forward.
A new study suggests the global “Hum” may often be a form of low-frequency tinnitus rather than an external sound, based on 28 volunteers. Tests showed typical low‑frequency hearing and normal otoacoustic emissions, indicating the noise is likely subjective and internal for at least some people. While not all cases are explained, reframing The Hum as tinnitus could steer toward existing and new coping strategies, though there is currently no cure for tinnitus.
A woman with persistent ringing in her ears initially blames stress, but medical evaluation soon reveals a more serious underlying condition, highlighting the importance of seeking professional medical assessment rather than attributing new ear symptoms to stress.
A federal judge in Virginia temporarily blocked the Trump administration from moving forward with plans to create a nearly $1.8 billion fund to compensate people allegedly targeted by the government, prohibiting transfers, claims processing, and disbursements and setting a June 12 hearing to decide whether to extend the pause.
New research shows hormones shape how we hear, with men showing earlier, gradual decline and women experiencing monthly auditory fluctuations and menopause-related changes; the study calls for sex- and hormone-aware, holistic research approaches to improve accurate diagnoses and personalized hearing care.
Researchers show that after damaging noise exposure, the brainstem’s superior paraolivary nucleus rapidly re-tunes within 24 hours to restore precise sound-offset signals, compensating for reduced hearing by increasing neuronal excitability and strengthening inhibitory inputs. This fast, circuit-specific adaptation preserves the timing of sound endings even as overall sensitivity declines, highlighting the brain’s resilience and offering potential directions for therapies addressing noise-related hearing loss.
A Shanghai Jiao Tong University study shows that closing the eyes actually impairs detecting sounds in noisy settings, while watching a related video improves auditory detection by about 3 dB. EEG data suggest eye closure triggers inward focus and overfiltering of sounds, whereas visual input helps anchor the auditory system to the external world, with implications for hearing aids and real-life listening.
A study with 25 volunteers found that keeping eyes open and viewing related visuals enhances hearing in noisy environments, while closing eyes makes it harder to detect sounds. EEG data showed eye closure increases suppression of background noise, whereas visual input—especially videos—helps anchor auditory perception. Participants were tested under four visual conditions (eyes closed, blank screen, still image, video) with several target sounds in 70 dB noise, revealing progressively better detection with more engaging visuals. The work, published in The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, suggests visual engagement can improve auditory sensitivity even in noisy settings.
A live Capitol Hill briefing centers on Tulsi Gabbard’s tenure as director of national intelligence, with Joe Kent’s resignation fueling questions about her influence and a forthcoming Senate Intelligence hearing that may revisit her Iran policy stance. The package also notes related briefings on FISA’s 702 reauthorization, Mullin’s nomination to lead Homeland Security, and the Epstein probe, while a separate update reports Elizabeth Warren’s endorsement of Mallory McMorrow in Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary, signaling continued intra-party alignment among progressives.
The Senate Intelligence Committee will hear from top U.S. intelligence officials amid growing questions about the Iran war and its justification, as resignations and public criticisms emerge. One aide, Joe Kent, quit, alleging that U.S. actions were pressured by Israel and lobbying efforts, while Tulsi Gabbard publicly defended the administration’s view of an imminent threat. An earlier 2025 intelligence assessment suggested Iran was not building a nuclear weapon, complicating the public narrative as allies grow reluctant to engage and lawmakers seek accountability on the war’s endgame.