Brain chemical potential new hope in controlling Tourette Syndrome tics
A chemical in the brain plays a vital role in controlling the involuntary movements and vocal tics associated with Tourette Syndrome (TS), a new study has shown.
View ArticleWhen words fail, a highly specialized center helps patients find their voices
When Erik Laurence transferred to Shanghai, China, in 2009, as vice president of a software company, he thought his biggest challenge would be improving his Mandarin-language skills and learning the...
View ArticleLong-term results confirm success of MGH-developed laser treatment for...
The first long-term study of a pioneering endoscopic laser treatment for early vocal-cord cancer, developed at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and previously shown to provide optimal voice...
View ArticleVoice therapy needed to counter the "Marilyn Monroe" effect
Routine voice therapy is needed for children who were intubated when they were born very preterm to reduce their risk of developing speaking difficulties, according to recent research.
View ArticleTherapy affects the brain of people with Tourette syndrome
In addition to its effect on chronic tics, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can change the brain function of people with Tourette syndrome. This is what is revealed in a study by researchers at the...
View ArticleHidden impatience revealed in linguistics study
Someone's asked you a question, and halfway through it, you already know the answer. While you think you're politely waiting for your chance to respond, new research shows that you're actually more...
View ArticleBiomedical students develop therapeutic toy for auditory disabilities
Hearing loss is one of the most common birth defects, with more than 12,000 children in the United States affected each year. Three students in Wichita State University's biomedical engineering program...
View ArticleBrain chemical aids tic control in Tourette Syndrome
A chemical in the brain could potentially be harnessed to help young people with Tourette Syndrome (TS) to overcome the physical and vocal tics associated with the neurological disorder, say researchers.
View ArticleScientists grow functional vocal cord tissue in the lab
University of Wisconsin-Madison scientists have succeeded in growing functional vocal cord tissue in the laboratory, a major step toward restoring a voice to people who have lost their vocal cords to...
View ArticleBorn with no voice and low odds, boy talks with new voice box
Grant Hasse was born with two very rare conditions—one that's usually fatal, the other that should have left him unable to talk.
View ArticleHuman sounds convey emotions clearer and faster than words
It takes just one-tenth of a second for our brains to begin to recognize emotions conveyed by vocalizations, according to researchers from McGill. It doesn't matter whether the non-verbal sounds are...
View ArticleIn loud rooms our brains 'hear' in a different way – new findings
When we talk face to face, we exchange many more signals than just words. We communicate using our body posture, facial expressions and head and eye movements; but also through the rhythms that are...
View ArticleWhat can a sea-lion teach us about musicality?
Ronan the sea lion can keep the beat better than any other animal, a study published in Frontiers in Neuroscience found out more.
View ArticleDo children with Tourette syndrome have an advantage at language?
Children with Tourette syndrome may process aspects of language faster than other children, a new study shows.
View ArticleResearch reveals individual differences in adult male voices emerge long...
New research from University of Sussex psychologists shows that voice pitch in males is determined long before a surge of sex hormones at puberty lengthens their vocal folds. In fact, the researchers...
View ArticlePhysician fine-tuning mouse model for rare condition in which HPV infection...
Infection with the common human papillomavirus can result in a rare condition that can leave children chronically hoarse and with difficulty breathing.
View ArticleNoninvasive tool to make voice therapy simpler–and more scientific
When Meghan Graham was an undergraduate at Ithaca College, her speech pathology professor pulled her aside after class, but not to discuss homework. "This may be personal," she said, "but do you smoke?"
View ArticleNew research suggests that men and women perceive consonants differently
The science behind what makes a human voice sound pleasant, or "vocal attractiveness," is something that people are exposed to everyday while interacting with a digital assistant like Apple's Siri....
View ArticleChronic throat clearing may be the body's response to irritants
"Ahem!" This could be the sound of getting someone's attention, but when it occurs repeatedly, it may also be the sound of chronic throat clearing. Chronic throat clearing is a common problem that may...
View ArticleHome remedies: helping a hoarse voice
You've likely had days when your voice sounds excessively husky, raspy or weak. You may have even lost your voice for a short time laryngitis. Laryngitis is an inflammation of your voice box (larynx)...
View ArticleWhite House funds songbird study to unlock mystery of vocal learning
A young songbird sings an intricate melody from its caged perch, trying to echo the mating song heard so many times from his father.
View ArticleThe healing power of fat
A healthy-weight adult can have 30 billion fat cells in his or her body, while someone who is considered obese can carry as many as 300 billion.
View ArticleAthletes who experience trouble breathing may have vocal cord dysfunction
Feeling like you can't breathe is frightening and can trigger anxiety and panic in the person experiencing it and those around them.
View ArticleSurgeon volume impacts parathyroidectomy outcomes
(HealthDay)—Patients undergoing parathyroidectomy by high-volume surgeons have a lower rate of vocal cord paralysis compared to patients of low-volume surgeons, according to a study published online...
View ArticleNew tool for analyzing mouse vocalizations may provide insights for autism...
Vocalization plays a significant role in social communication across species such as speech by humans and song by birds. Male mice produce ultrasonic vocalizations in the presence of females and both...
View ArticleTourette-like tics vanish in mice treated with histamine
Yale scientists produced increased grooming behavior in mice that may model tics in Tourette syndrome and discovered these behaviors vanish when histamine—a neurotransmitter most commonly associated...
View ArticleTourette syndrome—finally, something to shout about
Tourette syndrome is a mysterious medical curiosity that has puzzled doctors for more than a century. People who have it suffer from tics and other behavioral problems, such as obsessive compulsive...
View ArticleDrowning can occur hours after swimming
(HealthDay)—While it happens rarely, a person can drown on dry land hours after having been in the water.
View ArticleHow infant directed speech shapes your child's development
The way you speak to your baby can tell a very specific story.
View ArticleHome remedies: having a bout with hiccups
Hiccups may result from a large meal, alcoholic beverages or sudden excitement. In some cases, hiccups may be a sign of an underlying medical condition. For most people, a bout of hiccups usually lasts...
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