About this video

• Video Title: Protect & Improve Your Hearing & Brain Health | Dr. Konstantina Stankovic
• Channel: Andrew Huberman
• Speakers: Andrew Huberman, Dr. Konstantina Stankovic
• Duration: 02:27:43

Overview

This episode of the Huberman Lab podcast features Dr. Konstantina Stankovic, an expert in otolaryngology, head and neck surgery. The discussion focuses on the intricacies of the human auditory system, how to protect hearing, and remedies for common hearing-related issues like tinnitus. It highlights the crucial link between hearing health and overall brain function, cognitive decline, and emotional well-being, offering science-based tools and insights for listeners.

Key takeaways

• The Auditory System's Complexity: The inner ear, though incredibly small, is a highly sensitive organ responsible for converting mechanical sound waves into electrical signals that are sent to the brain. This process involves delicate hair cells that are vulnerable to damage from loud noise, certain drugs, and aging.
• Hearing Loss and Cognitive Decline: There is a significant and growing body of evidence linking hearing loss to an increased risk of dementia and cognitive decline. This connection is thought to be both indirect (e.g., through social isolation and depression) and potentially direct, though the latter is still an active area of research.
• Protecting Your Hearing: Protecting hearing involves understanding safe sound levels (e.g., 80 decibels for 8 hours, with exposure time halving for every 3-decibel increase). Using earplugs at loud events and considering magnesium supplementation (particularly magnesium threonate) before exposure to loud noise can be beneficial.
• Tinnitus Explained: Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, is often a phantom sound generated by the brain in response to reduced auditory input. While there's no single cure, interventions like hearing aids for those with hearing loss and cognitive behavioral therapy have shown effectiveness. Focusing on distraction and managing the emotional response to tinnitus is also crucial.
• The Impact of Sound on Emotion and Cognition: Sound plays a profound role in emotional well-being and cognitive function. The auditory pathways are closely linked to the limbic system, explaining how music and speech can evoke strong emotional responses. Furthermore, learning new languages or engaging with music can enhance auditory plasticity and cognitive abilities.

Here are the claims made about tinnitus in the video:

• Tinnitus as a phantom sound: Tinnitus is described as a phantom sound typically produced by the brain in response to reduced auditory input. The brain creates the sound it is no longer detecting.
• Tinnitus and emotional well-being: The link between hearing and emotion is strong, and for some individuals, tinnitus can have a detrimental effect on their emotional well-being, leading to severe disability or even suicidal thoughts.
• Tinnitus and brain circuits: The severity of tinnitus can vary greatly among individuals, suggesting differences in how brain circuits are connected, particularly amplifying the emotional component for some.
• Tinnitus and hearing loss: Tinnitus often accompanies hearing loss, and when hearing is improved (e.g., through cochlear implants for those with severe hearing loss), the tinnitus can sometimes improve or disappear.
• Tinnitus and hyperacusis: Hyperacusis (oversensitivity to sound) frequently accompanies hearing loss, leading to pain or discomfort from sounds that are not excessively loud.
• Tinnitus and magnesium: There is some evidence that magnesium supplementation might help with tinnitus, particularly in individuals who also experience migraines. However, large-scale studies have not consistently shown that supplementation makes a difference for tinnitus in general.
• Tinnitus as an umbrella term: Tinnitus is an umbrella term encompassing many different conditions, making it difficult to establish precise diagnoses and guide therapy.
• Tinnitus and brain hyperactivity: Studies show hyperactivity in auditory centers of the brain, such as the inferior colliculus, in people with tinnitus who have normal audiometric thresholds.
• Tinnitus and loss of inhibition: Loud noise that causes tinnitus can lead to a loss of inhibition in certain brain pathways, contributing to hyperactivity.
• Tinnitus and cochlear implants: Cochlear implants can improve tinnitus for a significant percentage of individuals who have severe or profound hearing loss.
• Tinnitus and distraction: Similar to other learned circuits in the brain, the more one thinks about tinnitus, the more the associated circuitry is reinforced. Distraction and background noise can help lessen its impact.
• Tinnitus and medical evaluation: A thorough medical evaluation is necessary to properly assess tinnitus, rule out underlying causes like tumors, and guide appropriate treatment.
• Tinnitus and standard treatments: The American Academy of Otolaryngology head and neck surgery endorses hearing aids (for those who need them) and cognitive behavioral therapy as primary interventions for tinnitus.