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It’s extremely hot and I’m feeling weak and dizzy. Could I have heat stroke?

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lily-hospers-1060107">Lily Hospers</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/james-smallcombe-1412548">James Smallcombe</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ollie-jay-114164">Ollie Jay</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a></em></p> <p>Australia is braced for a hot, dry summer. El Nino is back, and this year it will occur alongside an <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-22/positive-indian-ocean-dipole-to-coincide-with-el-nino/102756378">Indian Ocean dipole</a>, a climate pattern which will further amplify this hot and dry effect.</p> <p>Hot weather can place great stress on our bodies. When the environmental conditions exceed the limit at which we can adequately cope, we can suffer from heat-related illnesses.</p> <p>Heat illnesses can vary, from relatively mild heat exhaustion to the potentially life-threatening condition of heat stroke.</p> <h2>What are the signs and symptoms?</h2> <p>If you’re suffering from heat exhaustion, you may feel weakness, nausea, headaches or dizziness.</p> <p>Mild <a href="https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/beattheheat/Pages/heat-related-illness.aspx">symptoms of heat exhaustion</a> can often be treated at home by reducing your levels of physical activity, finding shade, removing excess clothing, hydrating with water and perhaps even taking a cool shower.</p> <p>If left unchecked, heat exhaustion can progress to the far more serious condition of heat stroke, where your core temperature climbs upwards of 40°C. <a href="https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/beattheheat/Pages/heat-related-illness.aspx">Symptoms</a> can develop rapidly and may include confusion, disorientation, agitation, convulsions, or it could even result in a coma.</p> <p>Heat stroke is a medical emergency and requires urgent treatment. Call an ambulance and start rapid, aggressive cooling by immersing the person in cold water (such as a cold bath). If this isn’t possible, apply ice packs to their neck, armpits and groin and cover the skin with lots of cool water.</p> <p>When it comes to cooling someone with suspected heat stroke, the quicker the better: cool first, transport second.</p> <h2>Why do we overheat?</h2> <p>Environmental conditions play an important role in determining our heat stress risk. If the air temperature, humidity and levels of sun exposure are high, we are much more likely to dangerously overheat.</p> <p>When the body gets hot, the heart pumps more warm blood to our skin to help lose heat. As air temperature rises, this way of shedding heat becomes ineffective. When air temperature is higher than the temperature of the skin (normally around 35°C), we start gaining heat from our surroundings.</p> <p>Sweating is by far our most effective physiological means of keeping cool. However, it is the <em>evaporation</em> of sweat from our skin that provides cooling relief.</p> <p>When the air is humid, it already contains a lot of moisture, and this reduces how efficiently sweat evaporates.</p> <p>Our physical activity levels and clothing also impact heat stress risk. When we move, our bodies generate metabolic heat as a by-product. The more intense physical activity is, the more heat we must lose to avoid dangerous rises in core temperature.</p> <p>Finally, clothing can act as an insulator and barrier for the evaporation of sweat, making it even more difficult for us to keep cool.</p> <h2>Who is most vulnerable in the heat?</h2> <p>Some people <a href="https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/beattheheat/Pages/people-most-at-risk.aspx">are at greater risk</a> of developing heat illness than others. This can result from physiological limitations, such as a decreased capacity to sweat, or a reduced capacity to adapt our behaviour. When these two risk factors coincide, it’s a perfect storm of vulnerability.</p> <p>Take, for example, an elderly outdoor agricultural worker. Being aged over 60, their physiological capacity to sweat is reduced. The worker may also be wearing heavy safety clothing, which may further limit heat loss from the body. If they don’t slow down, seek shelter and adequately hydrate, they become even more vulnerable.</p> <p>When a person dies of heat stroke – which is relatively easy to diagnose – heat will be listed as a cause of death on a death certificate. Between 2001 and 2018 in Australia, 473 heat-related deaths were <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212420921006324">officially reported</a>.</p> <p>However, the true association between heat and death is thought to be far greater, with an <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(20)30100-5/fulltext">estimated 36,000 deaths</a> in Australia between 2006 and 2017.</p> <p>This is because most people who die during extreme heat events do not die from heat stroke. Instead, they they die of <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejm199607113350203">other medical complications</a> such as cardiovascular or renal collapse, as additional strain is placed on essential organs such as the heart and kidneys.</p> <p>People with underlying health conditions are more likely to succumb to heat-associated complications before they develop critical core temperature (over 40°C) and heat stroke.</p> <p>In such cases, while the additional physiological strain imposed by the heat probably “caused” the death, the official “cause of death” is often listed as something else, such as a heart attack. This can make understanding the true health burden of extreme heat more difficult.</p> <h2>How to stay safe in the heat</h2> <p>Thankfully, there are effective, low-cost <a href="https://twitter.com/TheLancet/status/1677702906789740545">ways</a> of staying safe in the heat. These include: <!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/215084/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <ul> <li>staying adequately hydrated</li> <li>getting out of the heat to a cooler area indoors or shaded area outdoors</li> <li>loosening or removing clothing</li> <li>cooling down any way you can: <ul> <li>using an electric fan (which can be used at 37°C and below, irrespective of age and humidity)</li> <li>using a cold-water spray</li> <li>applying a cool, damp sponge or cloth</li> <li>wetting clothes and skin</li> <li>having a cool shower or bath</li> <li>applying ice packs or crushed ice in a damp towel on the neck, groin and armpits.</li> </ul> </li> </ul> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lily-hospers-1060107"><em>Lily Hospers</em></a><em>, PhD Candidate, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/james-smallcombe-1412548">James Smallcombe</a>, Post-doctoral Research Associate, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ollie-jay-114164">Ollie Jay</a>, Professor of Heat &amp; Health; Director of Heat &amp; Health Research Incubator; Director of Thermal Ergonomics Laboratory, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/its-extremely-hot-and-im-feeling-weak-and-dizzy-could-i-have-heat-stroke-215084">original ar</a><a href="https://theconversation.com/its-extremely-hot-and-im-feeling-weak-and-dizzy-could-i-have-heat-stroke-215084">ticle</a>.</em></p>

Body

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This new tourist attraction will make you dizzy

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A newly opened tourist attraction makes you feel like you’re floating on air, all while catching panoramic views of mountains and a valley that disappears beneath you.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Vøringsfossen waterfall offers views of the landscape near Eifjord in Hardanger, western Norway.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The project, designed by architect Carl-Viggo Hølmebakk, has been over a decade in the making and is now ready for visitors brave enough to traverse the 99 steps that connect the two sides of the Måbødalen valley.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The bridge is part of a series of developments in the area that aim to make the spot even more attractive to visitors, including new viewpoint platforms and footpaths.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The bridge is, of course, the heart of the project that connects two sides of the river and the waterfall together,” Hølmebakk told CNN Travel.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CF4dRB8MJji/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CF4dRB8MJji/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Carl-Viggo Hølmebakk (@carlviggoholmebakk)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The bridge has been designed to fuse the natural and man-made seamlessly - with Hølmebakk and his team closely studying the local landscape and scanning the terrain with digital equipment to ensure they didn’t damage the environment.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Though those with a fear of heights may want to steer clear, the bridge will become another reason to visit one of Norway’s top destinations.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The floating-on-air design is inspired by Norwegian folklore and its Romantic tradition, Hølmebakk said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But turning this concept into reality wasn’t a small task, as the team had to combine conventional building methods with helicopters and mountaineers.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Construction began back in 2015, but Vøringsfossen’s mountainous location meant that work could only be done during the short summer season.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The bridge is suitable for both older people and children, but won’t be wheelchair-friendly until the accessible footpath currently in development is completed.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">By 2022, a cafe will also be on site, giving visitors a perfect spot to catch their breath after walking on the bridge.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hølmebakk saw the bridge at each stage of construction but said he still marvelled the first time he saw it finished and was able to step onto the walkway.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He said the scale is pretty incredible and crossing it was “fantastic”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Even so, Hølmebakk stresses the bridge will always come second to the landscape.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The architecture is not the main part, but the beautiful nature, and the waterfall.”</span></p>

International Travel

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15 vertigo treatments to finally cure your dizziness

<p>What is vertigo?<br />It’s the feeling of false movement – as if the world is spinning like a carnival ride and you can’t get off.</p> <p>It is a symptom of many conditions and diseases that target the inner ear, according to the National Organisation for Rare Disorders (NORD). They include:</p> <ul> <li>benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)</li> <li>Ménière’s disease</li> <li>ear infections</li> </ul> <p>Other conditions that can cause vertigo involve the central nervous system. These include:</p> <ul> <li>concussion</li> <li>multiple sclerosis</li> <li>alcohol or medication toxicity</li> <li>stroke</li> <li>viral meningitis</li> </ul> <p>The vertigo treatment that’s right for you will likely depend on the root cause of your condition.” An accurate diagnosis is essential, especially to rule out central nervous system causes. Diagnosis most commonly includes an MRI of the brain. Audiology tests of the workings of the ear can also be helpful,” says neurologist, Arif Dalvi.</p> <p>Consider vestibular rehabilitation<br />Many of the conditions which cause vertigo affect the vestibular system, a pathway located within the inner ear which regulates balance, equilibrium and spatial orientation. According to VeDA – a group focused on inner ear disorders – vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) can be effective at reducing vertigo and dizziness. VRT is an exercise-based program customised for each patient. The exercises focus on improving balance, reducing dizziness and dealing with other symptoms of vertigo. Your doctor will refer you to a physical therapist for this program.</p> <p>Try the Epley manoeuvre<br />“For benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), a vestibular exercise called the Epley manoeuvre can be helpful,” says Dr Dalvi. BPPV is the most common cause of vertigo, and it’s the result of calcium crystals (otoconia) coming loose in the inner ear. According to the Mayo Clinic, the manoeuvre (also called “canalith repositioning“) is best performed by a medical professional because of the risk of neck or back injury. By laying back and then shifting the head, the process moves the crystals to a less sensitive area where they can be reabsorbed by the body. Your doctor will prescribe the Epley manoeuvre for right or left side BPPV.</p> <p>Change your diet<br />When migraines include vestibular symptoms such as dizziness, loss of balance and vertigo, they are called vestibular migraines. Alterations in your diet may be a good initial vertigo treatment. Changes in diet that help prevent migraines can reduce or even eliminate vertigo and other vestibular symptoms associated with this type of headache, according to VeDA. “From a dietary standpoint, it is important to avoid alcohol, foods high in salt, and excessive caffeine, as any of these can make symptoms worse,” says Dr Derek Bennetsen, emergency physician.</p> <p>Gently ride out the storm<br />Your vertigo may clear up on its own. Sometimes, says Dr Bennetsen, all you need is to lie down and remain calm and quiet. “Vertigo may be alleviated by remaining still, and limiting changes in position as much as possible,” says Dr Bennetsen. In a dark, quiet room, lie still taking care not to move your head or even your eyes, he says. Even if your symptoms resolve on their own, you’ll still want to get checked out, he advises.</p> <p>Take an antihistamine<br />As the name suggests, antihistamines block the effects of histamine, which can cause allergic reactions, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and vertigo. Internal medicine specialist, Lisa Ashe, recommends trying over-the-counter Benadryl or the prescription meclizine.</p> <p>Migraine medicines may help<br />A study published in Otology &amp; Neurotology in 2018 suggests that preventative medications for migraine, including tricyclic antidepressants, were effective in decreasing dizziness and vertigo in patients.</p> <p>Try sedatives<br />According to The American College of Cardiology (ACC), sedatives may reduce the spinning associated with vertigo by calming down brain activity and reducing anxiety. Dr Ashe recommends benzodiazepines, such as Valium, Ativan and Xanax. These medications may be a particularly effective vertigo treatment for reducing vertigo caused by inner ear problems, the ACC notes.</p> <p>Diuretics for Ménière’s disease<br />Ménière’s disease is an inner ear disorder that can trigger vertigo. Doctors often prescribe so-called water pills – diuretic medication – and a low-salt diet, says Dr Bennetsen: “This is because the condition is thought to be the result of an excessive build-up of endolymph fluid, in the inner ear.”</p> <p>Antiviral medications may help<br />Do you get earaches? Inner ear infections can lead to dizziness and – unlike middle-ear infections – a virus may be responsible. Occasionally, a systemic viral infection like mononucleosis, herpes or the flu can lead to vertigo, according to Cleveland Clinic. “Viral infections may respond to antiviral medications, alleviating symptoms,” says Dr Dalvi. Examples of anti-viral drugs include Tamiflu and Acyclovir.</p> <p>Drink more water<br />You need water – and so do your ears. Dehydration is a cause of dizziness, says the Mayo Clinic. Dr Bennetsen also recommends avoiding substances that can deplete fluids such as alcoholic beverages, salty foods and caffeine.</p> <p>Surgical solutions<br />In some rare instances, surgery may be the only treatment that can ease your symptoms of your vertigo. Dr Dalvi says an acoustic neuroma – a benign tumour – can grow on the vestibular nerve between the inner ear and brain, disrupting balance and hearing. According to the Mayo Clinic, your doctor may monitor this slow-growing neuroma, choose to treat it with radiation or advise surgical removal. Another rare source of vertigo is a malignant brain tumour.</p> <p>Check your medications<br />Many popular prescribed medications can trigger side effects like dizziness and vertigo. Or drugs can interact to disturb your balance. Let your doctor know about over-the-counter meds you take and don’t forget to include supplements and herbs. According to the experts at the Mayo Clinic, prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs that may cause dizziness include:</p> <ul> <li>antidepressants</li> <li>anti-seizure drugs</li> <li>blood pressure-lowering drugs</li> <li>sedatives</li> <li>tranquilisers</li> </ul> <p>Healthy habits may help<br />A healthy lifestyle is another vertigo prevention strategy that you need to do no matter what the cause. Try reducing stress and making sure to get enough sleep. Eat a diet full of produce and lean proteins, and stay active (given your condition).</p> <p>Bone up on vitamin D<br />Falling short of this vital nutrient can harm your bones – your body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium. Patients with the most common type of vertigo (BPPV) who were deficient in vitamin D may have benefitted from supplementing with D, per 2016 research in Auris Nasus Larynx. Patients were less likely to suffer a relapse of symptoms. (One limitation, however, was the lack of control group in the study.)</p> <p class="p1"><em>Written by Corey Whelan. This article first appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/15-vertigo-treatments-to-finally-cure-your-dizziness"><span class="s1">Reader’s Digest</span></a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.com.au/subscribe"><span class="s1">here’s our best subscription offer</span></a>.</em></p>

Body

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Dizziness when standing up linked to dementia

<p><a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170310132631.htm" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>A startling new study</strong></span></a> has found a link between dizziness when standing up too quickly and dementia later in life. US scientists found that those who experienced these dizzy spells (known as orthostatic or postural hypotension) were 40 per cent more likely to get dementia 20 years later and 15 per cent more likely to experience cognitive decline than those who did not.</p> <p>Researchers from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health tested over 11,500 participants with an average age of 54 and found that the brief drop in blood pressure that causes the dizzy spells could lead to lasting vascular damage.</p> <p>“Even though these episodes are fleeting, they may have impacts that are long lasting,” lead researcher Dr Andreea Rawlings said. “We found that those people who suffered from orthostatic hypotension in middle age were 40 per cent more likely to develop dementia than those who did not. It's a significant finding and we need to better understand just what is happening.”</p> <p>While there has been research in the past looking into the connection between orthostatic hypotension and cognitive decline in later life, this is the first study to identify a long-term association between the two.</p> <p>“Identifying risk factors for cognitive decline and dementia is important for understanding disease progression, and being able to identify those most at risk gives us possible strategies for prevention and intervention.”</p> <p>What are your thoughts about these new findings? Let us know in the comments.</p>

Mind

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Feeling dizzy linked to increased risk of dementia

<p>People who feel dizzy when they quickly stand up have a 15 per cent increased risk of getting dementia late in life, new research suggests.</p> <p>A 24-year-old study of 6,000 people found a link between the chances of developing neurological diseases, including Alzheimer’s, and experiencing orthastatic hypotension, which can cause dizziness.</p> <p>The scientists at the Erasmus Medical Centre in the Netherlands believe brain tissue damage may be caused by a temporary starvation of oxygen during the sudden drop in blood pressure.</p> <p>The researchers monitored ,204 men and women, with an average age of 68, who had no history of dementia or stroke, between 1990 and 1992. They followed up 15 years later, finding 19 per cent of the participants had developed dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia and Parkinson’s dementia. The 1,152 participants, who had dizzy spells or head rushes when they stood up quickly between 1990 and 1992, has a 15 per cent increase in all dementia types.</p> <p>"These findings suggest that transient cerebral hypoperfusion plays a role in the aetiology of dementia and that further studies are warranted to investigate the effects of hypoperfusion and treatment of orthostatic hypotension on markers of neurodegenerative disease and cognition," the study authors said.</p> <p><strong>Related links: </strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/2016/09/importance-of-spiritual-care-at-end-of-life/"><em>Spiritual care at the end of life can add purpose</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/2016/09/how-to-talk-to-your-parents-about-aged-care/"><em>How to talk to your parents about aged care</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/2016/09/tips-to-cope-with-losing-independence-with-age/"><em>Tips to cope with losing independence with age</em></a></strong></span></p>

News

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Is your dizziness caused by ear problems?

<p>There are many causes to dizziness such as low blood pressure or dehydration, but did you know ear problems are also one of them? This occurs because the balance organ is actually located in part of the inner ear, although our sense of balance actually comes from the coordination of the balance organ, the visual system and the muscles in the body. If you’ve experienced a spinning sensation coupled with decreased hearing or ringing in the ears, your dizziness might be caused by an ear disorder. You should see your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.</p><p>The most common ear-related causes of dizziness include:</p><ul><li><strong>Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo –</strong> This is a common inner-ear disorder among older people, where crystals normally located in the inner ear become dislodged. As your head moves, the crystals move causing dizziness.</li><li><strong>Labyrinthitis –</strong> An ear disorder that involves inflammation of the middle ear. It generally occurs after a viral infection.</li><li><strong>Meniere's disease –</strong> This is an inner ear disorder that causes severe hearing loss, tinnitus and dizziness.</li><li><strong>Acoustic neuroma –</strong> It is a non-cancerous tumour of the ear that causes ringing in the ears, hearing loss and balance problems.</li></ul><p><strong>Related links:</strong></p><p><em><strong><a href="/health/hearing/2015/09/antibiotics-linked-to-hearing-loss/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Certain antibiotics linked to hearing loss</span></a></strong></em></p><p><em><strong><a href="/health/hearing/2015/09/things-hearing-impaired-find-annoying/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">10 commandments the hard of hearing wish you’d follow</span></a></strong></em></p><p><em><strong><a href="/health/hearing/2015/09/spotify-and-starkey-hearing-foundation-ad/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Emotional video of three deaf people hearing family for first time</span></a></strong></em></p>

Hearing

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