Latest news with #BritishAcademyofAudiology
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Four tech wearables designed to improve our health, from Apple AirPods to Oura rings
Wearable technologies are continuing to become part of everyday life, particularly the devices that aim to help us track and improve our health. New advancements are being made all the time, with devices like step counters and sleep trackers becoming more popular in recent years. Most recently, Apple introduced a new feature in the AirPods Pro 2 that allows them to be used as a hearing aid. The feature is now available in the UK and aims to help millions of people with hearing loss. We take a closer look at the new AirPods Pro 2 feature, as well as other health-related devices that have become all the rage. The technology that allows the AirPods Pro 2 to be used as hearing aids is now available in the UK as a free software update. According to the British Academy of Audiology, around 11 million people in the UK live with some degree of hearing loss, making it the second most common disability in the country. Research has shown that hearing loss can have an impact on a person's overall health and wellbeing if left untreated. Hearing loss is also linked to a higher risk of developing dementia, and can have a significant impact on a person's quality of life. Apple AirPods Pro 2 users can take a Hearing Test using the earbuds, which takes about five minutes, in order to create a personalised hearing profile. The hearing aid feature enables personalised adjustments so users can boost the sounds around them in real time. Commenting on the new feature, health and social care secretary Wes Streeting said: "It is estimated that half of people with hearing problems don't use hearing aids, so new products like this can help more people better manage their health. "As technology turbo-charges, we will work hand-in-hand with business to make sure as many Brits as possible reap the rewards." Armed with up to two times more noise cancellation than its predecessor and a six hour battery life, over 5,000 pairs of the fully automatic, noise-cancelling earphones have been sold in just the last month on Amazon. Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) are small sensors that can be attached to a person's upper arm or tummy. It measures the amount of glucose is in the fluid under the skin, feeding the information to an app or a reader so the user can keep track of their blood glucose levels. The technology is commonly used by people with type 1 diabetes, who use the CGMs to see how their body responds to different foods. They also use it to determine how much insulin they might need at any given moment. However, the rise in popularity of platforms like ZOE has fueled an uptick in people without diabetes using CGMs to track their health and diet. Celebrities like Davina McCall swear by ZOE, which offers personalised diet plans based on data it collects from the CGMs it hands out to users. While CGMs are extremely useful for diabetics to avoid glucose spikes - which can lead to hyperglycaemia - they may not be providing accurate data for those who aren't diabetic. This is because a number of lifestyle factors can influence glucose readings, resulting in a report that can be difficult to interpret and that may lead people to cut out food unnecessarily. Exercise, hormones, and stress all play a role in blood glucose levels. Oura rings have exploded in popularity recently, as the tiny yet smart device has been promoted by celebrities and athletes for its tracking capabilities. Famous faces like Jennifer Aniston, Molly-Mae Hague, Gwyneth Paltrow, and even Prince Harry have been seen sporting the sleek band around their fingers. The device is less bulky than a smartwatch and blends in more seamlessly with the wearer's personal style, making it highly popular. Most prominently, it tracks the wearer's sleep, giving you a score out of 100 every morning according to how well you slept and how prepared your body is for the day ahead. It is particularly popular among individuals taking part in the viral "sleepmaxxing" trend on TikTok, in which people are using a number of techniques to improve their sleep quality and quantity. According to some reviews, the Oura ring can also help track menstrual cycles by monitoring temperature, and predict when you're getting ill before symptoms arrive. However, despite its sleek and minimal design, it can get in the way of some activities, like cycling and weightlifting. For these types of activities, a smart watch is likely more appealing. This revolutionary smart ring works alongside the world-class personal health Oura App to provide members with accurate and personalised daily health data, insights, and guidance. Smartwatches have been around for a number of years now, and the technology in them has seen huge advancements. In fact, some users have said their smartwatch "saved" them from a heart attack by alerting them when their heart rate became abnormally high. One woman in Canada said her Apple watch alerted her to an alarmingly high heart rate of 220, prompting her to call an ambulance. Other users have said the Apple Watch can help them catch disorders like sleep apnea, as well as detect when they're getting ill before they start feeling any symptoms. A number of smartwatches now have electrocardiogram (ECG) capabilities, which allows them to read the heart's electrical activity. This means the watch can detect an irregular heartbeat, which could be a sign of a stroke. Beyond heart health, researchers also believe smartwatches can identify Parkinson's disease years before a person is clinically diagnosed. A 2023 study by researchers at Cardiff University found that smartwatches can detect subtle abnormalities in their walking patterns, which made it possible to identify individuals with signs of Parkinson's disease up to seven years before their clinical diagnosis. Enjoy advanced fitness and health features with Apple's latest watch model, designed with a larger display, thinner and lighter frame and faster charging. Read more about health and wellness: I wore the Gwyneth-approved Oura ring for a month – did it fix my life? (The Independent, 9-min read) The tiny blood pressure sensor that could end up saving your life (Yahoo News, 4-min read) Six exercises to keep your heart healthy after sitting for too long (Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read)
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Why noise-cancelling headphones damage your brain's ability to process sound, per audiology experts
Noise-cancelling headphones are used to drown out the sound of colleagues while you're trying to focus work, get in the zone when lifting in the gym or avoid distractions when meditating. But now audiologists warn they could also be damaging your hearing. Five NHS audiology departments told the BBC that there has been an increase in the number of young people referred to them from GPs with hearing issues. However, the experts warn that their hearing is fine – it's their ability to process sound that's impacted. Known as auditory processing disorder (APD), the neurological condition means the brain finds it difficult to understand sounds and spoken words. The NHS says APD is typically seen in people who have had regular ear infections, a head injury or complications at birth. It's also more common in neurodiverse people. However, ADP is now becoming more common in people without these complications, making audiologists question if other factors, like noise-cancelling headphones, are contributing. APD is described as "what we do with what we hear", which means how the central nervous system uses auditory information it receives,' say researchers into the condition. The symptoms, say the NHS, may include finding it difficult to understand: people speaking in noisy places people with strong accents or fast talkers similar sounding words spoken instructions This link is anecdotal and the link is just a hypothesis – there's no solid proof that headphones may be to blame. However, audiologists told the BBC that there had been a 'significant increase in demand' for services and APD assessments. Claire Benton, vice president of the British Academy of Audiology, told the BBC that noise-cancelling headphones that block the layers of sound may make it harder for the brain to learn what to focus on. She suggested that by blocking out everyday sounds such as train noise or car beeps, the brain may 'forget' to filter the noises out itself. 'You have almost created this false environment by wearing those headphones of only listening to what you want to listen to. You are not having to work at it,' she said. 'Those more complex, high-level listening skills in your brain only really finish developing towards your late teens. So, if you have only been wearing noise-cancelling headphones and been in this false world for your late teens then you are slightly delaying your ability to process speech and noise.' If you work in loud environments, noise-cancelling headphones can help preserve your hearing. If you are worried that your listening and noise processing may be compromised, it's important to get it checked out. Book an appointment with a GP who can refer you to audiology services if needed. The treatment for APD involves auditory training – doing activities to improve listening and concentration. Could your stress and anxiety be linked to ADHD? Microplastics are invading your brain - here's what that means for your health 5 reasons exercise is the best thing you can do for your brain You Might Also Like 13 Buys To Help You Feel Great From £5 16 Speedo Swimsuits that Won't Flash Your Bum When Getting Swim-fit 11 Best Gym Trainers for Different Types of Workouts
