Recent News Stories
New York Times - January 16, 2012
Personal Health: Lifelines for People With Hearing Loss
Read about Dr. Frank Lin's research about hearing loss - a disability currently untreated in about 85 percent of those affected, may be the nation’s most damaging and costly sensory handicap. It is a hidden disability, often not obvious to others or even to those who have it.
TEDMED - December 2011
Watch Dr. Charles Limb's presentation at TEDMED where he talk about cochlear implantation - a surgery that treats hearing loss and can restore the ability to hear speech - and and how this technology doesn't let people fully experience music, yet.
Baltimore Sun - December 3, 2011
More suffer from hearing loss than expected, study shows
One in five Americans has significant hearing loss, far more than previously thought, according to new research that has scientists warning of an impending public health threat. Researchers at the Johns Hopkins say the growing number of seniors in the United States are at risk of isolation from their hearing loss and could suffer physical and mental debilitation. People think hearing loss is an inconsequential part of getting older," said Dr. Frank Lin, an assistant professor in Hopkins' department of otolaryngology-head and neck, who led the study. "But hearing loss is associated with a greater risk of developing dementia, and having poorer cognitive and physical functioning."
Baltimore Sun - November 23, 2011
Health officials alarmed over silicone injections for fuller buttocks
Doctors say treating those with silicone is difficult. The only way to get rid of it is to cut out the tissue and surrounding tissue that has been impacted, according to Dr. Patrick Byrne, director of the Hopkins Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, who was not personally involved in the dancer's treatment.
LA Times - November 15, 2011
Did you hear? One in five Americans has hearing loss
A study published Monday in Archives of Internal Medicine found that 20% of Americans over the age of 12 experience hearing loss in at least one ear. That figure surprised study leader Dr. Frank R. Lin, an assistant professor of otolaryngology and epidemiology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore. Similar stories ran in other outlets including: Fox News, Catholic Online, Bloomberg News and BusinessWeek.com.
NPR.org - November 10, 2011
An Unorthodox Approach To Tricky Surgery
Dr. Kofi Boahene, an assistant professor of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery at Johns Hopkins, has tried the technique in a handful of patients. The results from four cases were described in the journal The Laryngoscope last month.
Toronto Sun - October 26, 2011
Scarless way to remove tumors in skull
U.S. researchers have developed a surgery to remove tumours at the base of the skull that would result in no scars by entering through a patient's mouth instead. The scientists at Johns Hopkins Hospital, which includes Dr. Kofi Boahene, said there is a natural hole behind the molars, above the jawbone and beneath the cheekbone. This story also ran in HealthDay, US News and Gizmodo.
Baltimore Sun Magazine - September 25, 2011
Botox 2.0
Dr. Patrick Byrne and his patient are highlighted in this artice about Botox, which was originally intending to treat victims of accidents, however researchers at Hopkins may be in the early stages of developing the next big thing in cosmetic medicine.
Baltimore Sun - July 31, 2011
Hopkins team helps children with face-saving surgery
Doctor creates nonprofit that brings treatment to patients in Nicaragua. While still attending undergraduate school, Dr. Patrick J. Byrne made a promise: If he had the good fortune to go into medicine and become a doctor, he would do something for the underserved.
WJZ-TV - April 23, 2011
Dr. Patrick Byrne speaks to Kai Jackson about helping children with facial deformities, including cleft lip and palate, in the U.S. and developing countries
MyCity4Her - March 23, 2011
Top 10 Questions and Answers About Injectable Fillers
Read Dr. Lisa Ishii's blog post at MyCity4Her answering frequently asked questions about injectable fillers.
WBAL-TV - March 13, 2011
Docs Help Kids With Cleft Palates Remotely
Video conferencing is becoming more and more popular in the business world, but Dr. Patrick Byrne and his team is using the technology to help children in another country deal with the effects of a cleft palate.
New York Times - March 3, 2011
Aging: Hearing Loss Is Common but Often Ignored
Nearly two-thirds of Americans age 70 and older have hearing loss, but those who are of black race seem to have a protective effect against this loss, according to a new study led by Johns Hopkins and National Institute on Aging researchers. These findings, published online Feb. 28 in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, provide what is believed to be the first nationally representative survey in older adults on this often ignored and underreported condition. Contrary to the view that hearing loss is of only minor importance in old age, study leader Frank Lin, M.D., Ph.D., says studies including his own have strongly linked it to other health problems, such as cognitive decline, dementia, and poorer physical functioning. And he notes that relatively little is known about risk factors that drive hearing loss.
This study was also reported by Reuters, US News and on WYPR-FM "Maryland Morning."
Readers Digest "Best You" - March 1, 2011
Embarrassing Questions: “My hair has gotten so thin that you can see my scalp in certain places. Do hair implants make sense?”
Facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Lisa Ishii, who specializes in hair transplantation, provides information on today's hair implant process.
CBS Evening News - February 28, 2011
Study: HPV Linked to Head, Neck Cancers in Men
In a report about a new study that finds half of men in America are infected with the HPV virus, Dr. Sara Pai from the Johns Hopkins Head and Neck Cancer talks about this condition and a new clinical trial for people recently diagnosed with HPV-associated head and neck cancer.
PRESS RELEASE: Hearing Loss Rate in Older Adults Climbs to More than 60 Percent in National Survey - February 25, 2011
Nearly two-thirds of Americans age 70 and older have hearing loss, but those who are of black race seem to have a protective effect against this loss, according to a new study led by Johns Hopkins and National Institute on Aging researchers, led by Dr. Frank Lin. These findings, published online Feb. 28 in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, provide what is believed to be the first nationally representative survey in older adults on this often ignored and underreported condition.
CNN.com - February 15, 2011
Hearing Loss is Associated with the Risk of Developing Dementia
Dr. Frank Lin discusses the results of new study he led, which suggests that gradual hearing loss is a common symptom of aging, but in some people it may also be an early sign of Alzheimer's disease or other types of dementia. The risk of dementia appears to rise as hearing declines. Older people with mild hearing impairment -- those who have difficulty following a conversation in a crowded restaurant, say -- were nearly twice as likely as those with normal hearing to develop dementia, the study found. Severe hearing loss nearly quintupled the risk of dementia.
This study was also reported by Reuters, BusinessWeek, Fox News and on WYPR-FM "Maryland Morning."
Johns Hopkins Bayview Health & Wellness News - Winter 2011
Dr. Jean Kim talks about the use of stereotactic (3-D) guidance during sinus surgery, enabling procedures to be performed through the nose and eliminating the need for open surgery and cosmetic deformity. Read "Sweet Scents" in the Winter 2011 Johns Hopkins Bayview Health and Wellness News to find out more and learn about one patient's story.
WallStreetJournal.com - January 21, 2011
Woman Finds Her Voice After Rare Transplant
Director of the Johns Hopkins Voice Center, Lee Akst, M.D., comments on the future implications of a larnyx transplant that restored the voice of a woman who had been unable to speak on her own for more than 10 years.
ScienceDaily - January 18, 2011
Minimally Invasive Technique Appears Helpful to Reanimate Facial Paralysis
In the January/February issue of Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals, Dr. Kofi Boahene, and colleagues from Johns Hopkins report about a procedure involving only one small incision and no major modifications to bone, which can be used to transpose a tendon and appears helpful in reanimating the lower face after paralysis.
Johns Hopkins Bayview Health & Wellness News - Winter 2010
Sinus Relief Is Just a Visit Away
Dr. Jean Kim is featured, discussing the joint Allergy-Otolaryngology Sinusitis Clinic at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, which offers patients a clear view of their sinus problems.
Baltimore Sun - Decmeber 9, 2010
Teachers put their voices to the test
Schoolteachers — much like professional singers — can take steps to protect their vocal cords. Dr. Lee Akst from the Johns Hopkins Voice Center comments that teachers, like professional singers, are vulnerable to severe voice problems and urges teachers to take voice stress seriously. Read more about one teacher's story and tips on how teacher's can keep their voice healthy.
CBSNews.com - December 2, 2010
Ben Roethlisberger's Broken Nose: Should Steelers QB Keep Playing?
Is Roethlisberger playing fast and loose with his health by playing again so soon? Could be, said Dr. Patrick Byrne. "We suggest athletes wait a week or two before resuming activities. Obviously he may not have that luxury."
Wall Street Journal - December 3, 2010
When to Leave the Stage
Dr. Lee Akst, director of the Johns Hopkins Voice Center, comments on a story about when aging singers should contemplate no longer performing because of voice issues caused by age and the fact that rock singers are especially prone to scarring or other damage to the vocal cords.
TEDx MidAtlantic
Dr. Charles Limb presented at TEDx MidAtlantic in November 2010, presenting the results of what he and his team uncovered when they put jazz musicians and rappers in an fMRI to find out how the brain works during musical improvisation. The research has deep implications for the understanding of creativity of all kinds.
Washington Post - September 27, 2010
Cued speech offers deaf children links to spoken English
Interim department director, John Niparko, M.D., is quoted, advising parents of children with hearing losses to think holistically about what communication method is best for their family. "We can use sign language, voice, cued speech," Niparko said. "Find what the child responds to . . . and use that as your early methodology of communicating."
FOX News - September 22, 2010
Doctors Remove Brain Tumor Through Eyelid in Ground-Breaking Surgery
Dr. Kofi Boahene and neurosurgery colleague Dr. Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa, perform a ground-breaking procedure known as a transpalpebral orbitofrontal craniotomy; to put that in layman’s terms – it’s brain surgery through the eyelid.
WUSA-TV - September 16, 2010
Protecting And Preserving Your Voice
Dr. Lee Akst director of the Johns Hopkins Voice Center provides helpful preventive strategies for anyone who has a job which requires a lot of public speaking or projecting their voice in a loud environmen, including: people also need to pay attention to dryness or lubrication and watch out for inflammation.
WMAR-TV - August 24, 2010
Tips on Keeping a Healthy Voice
Lee Akst, M.D., director of the Johns Hopkins Voice Center, talks about overall voice health and how teachers and other professionals who use their voice can protect it.
Science News - August 18, 2010
Teen Hearing Loss Rate Worsens
Otolaryngologist, Yuri Agrawal, M.D., is quoted in an article about a new study that shows the percentage of adolescents with some decline has increased since 1990s.
WHHG-TV (NBC) Hagerstown, MD - July 30, 2010
Fourth Grader and Family Raise Money for Children with Hearing Loss
The Fotta Golf Tournament held by family of boy who received a cochlear implant at the Johns Hopkins Listening Center, raised $14,000 to help other children and families who need cochlear impants.
Johns Hopkins Children's Center - July 7, 2010
Aerodigestive Clinic Can Help When Reflux Is More than Reflux
Pediatric otolaryngologist, Margaret Skinner, M.D., discusses the new clinic for the treatment of aerodigestive diseases – complex conditions involving the airways and upper digestive tract.
Baltimore Sun - June 27, 2010
Johns Hopkins Doctors do Brain Surgery via Eyelid
Kofi Boahene, M.D., otolaryngologist and facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon, and neurosurgeon Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa, M.D., have pioneered a new minimally invasive technique that removes skull base brain tumors through a patient's eyelid. Patient Jeanne Fogas had a brain tumor removed through an incision in her right eyelid that is now nearly undetectable.
Salon.com - May 24, 2010
How to be a Food Snob
Andrew Lane, M.D., director of the Johns Hopkins Sinus Center explains how your sense of smell impacts your taste buds reaction to food.
The JHU Gazette - May 17, 2010
Johns Hopkins Provost Honored with International Award
Previous chair of the Johns Hopkins Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Surgery, now Johns Hopkins University's provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, lloyd Minor, M.D., has been awarded the Prosper Ménière Society’s 2010 gold medal. The award is for Minor’s contributions to understanding the scientific basis of Ménière’s disease.
e-Pediatrician - April 21, 2010
Searching for the Source of Stridor
Pediatricians are well familiar with the high-pitched breathing sound called stridor, but pinning down its source in infants is another matter. At Hopkins Children’s recent Pediatric Trends conference, pediatric otolaryngologist David Tunkel, M.D., offered some tips on recognizing common causes of stridor in infants and strategies for prompt treatment.
WebMD - April 20, 2010
Cochlear Implants for Kids: Earlier Surgery Works Best
The sooner children with hearing loss receive cochlear implants, the better, according to new research in the April 21 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Children who receive cochlear implants before 18 months of age are better able to hear, comprehend sound and music, and speak than are their counterparts who receive the implants at a later age.
“Early-onset deafness is a common childhood disability that we can do something about,” lead study author John Niparko, M.D., the director of otology, neurotology and skull base surgery at Johns Hopkins Medicine, says in an email. “Using this technology in a strategic manner appears to carry profoundly positive effects.”
WMAR-TV - April 8, 2010
Rest Your Vocal Chords
World Voice Day is April 16, and Lee Akst, M.D., Director of the Johns Hopkins Voice Center, talks about different ways to keep your voice healthy and protect your vocal chords.
Johns Hopkins University Magazine - Spring 2010
Relief at Last for Sinusitis Sufferers
Jean Kim, M.D., Ph.D., talks about the discovery of the protein that may be responsible for triggering unwanted growths inside sinuses. This finding may lead to drug treatments that could halt their development and alleviate problems for people with chronic rhino-sinusitis.
SmartPlanet.com - March 25, 2010
Why Take it Easy When You Scream for your Team?
Director of the Johns Hopkins Voice Center, Lee Akst, M.D., provides tips on how to keep your voice at its best while cheering for your favorite sports team.
Baltimore Sun - March 18, 2010
Jean Kim, M.D., Ph.D., comments on the Neti pot as a way to moisturize dry, raw noses caused by allergies.
Urbanite - March 2010
Johns Hopkins scientist Charles Limb on the music in his mind
Charles Limb, M.D., talks about his joint loves: that of music and helping patients hear.
CNN.com - February 19, 2010
The Cruelty of Oral Cancer
Christine Gourin, M.D., director of the clinical research program in head and neck cancer comments about the lack of awareness of head and neck cancers, and the devasting effects it has on indivuiduals diagnosed with this type of cancer, including Roger Ebert and All-Star NBA coach George Karl.
Podcast - January 22, 2010
The majority of people who have sinus surgery do benefit, a recent study shows
Andrew Lane, M.D. says careful and thorough examination determines which patients are most likely to be helped.
Watchful Waiting and Pain Relief Considered First when Treating Pediatric Ear Infections - January 2, 2010
Johns Hopkins Pediatric Otolaryngologist, David Tunkel, M.D., comments on physician practice when it comes to managing and treatment ear infections in children.
Johns Hopkins Researchers Track Down Protein Responsible for Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Polyps
November 23, 2009 - A protein known to stimulate blood vessel growth has now been found to be responsible for the cell overgrowth in the development of polyps that characterize one of the most severe forms of sinusitis, a study by Johns Hopkins researchers suggests. The finding gives scientists a new target for developing novel therapies to treat this form of the disease, which typically resists all current treatments.
Chronic sinusitis, a constant irritation and swelling of the nasal passages, is a common condition thought to affect about one out of every six people. This problem has several forms with a range of severities. One of the most severe forms produces polyps, overgrowths of unhealthy sinus tissue that can block the nose and sinus passages and make breathing through the nose difficult or impossible. This often results in pain, swelling, and an increase in infections. Though researchers aren’t sure how many people have this subtype, it’s estimated to affect between 15 and 30 percent of sinusitis patients.
“This type of sinusitis isn’t subtle—you can spot the patients with polyps from across the room. They’re breathing through their mouths, they talk with nasal voices, they’re constantly sniffling, and their faces are swollen,” says Jean Kim, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor in the Departments of Otolaryngology and Allergy and Clinical Immunology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and a researcher at the Johns Hopkins Allergy and Asthma Center at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. (click headline to read entire press release)
Read HealthDay article
Podcast:
Chronic infection of the sinuses is very common, with some estimates as high as one in six people. Perhaps up to a third of those folks will also experience an overgrowth of the tissue lining the sinuses to create polyps, which can make it very difficult to breath. Now research led by Jean Kim, a sinusitis expert and surgeon at Johns Hopkins, may explain why polyps form.
Dr. Stohler
L. Stefan Levin Memorial Lecture 2009 - "Mood, Snake Oil and Genes"
Click above to watch the seventh biennial L. Stefan Levin, D.D.S., M.S.D., Memorial Lecture "Mood, Snake Oil and Genes" presented by Christian Stohler, D.M.D., Professor and Dean of the University of Maryland, Baltimore College of Dental Surgery/Dental School on November 11, 2009.
Now Hear This - Johns Hopkins Scientists Show How Tiny Cells Deliver Big Sound
October 22, 2009, Deep in the ear, 95 percent of the cells that shuttle sound to the brain are big, boisterous neurons that, to date, have explained most of what scientists know about how hearing works. Whether a rare, whisper-small second set of cells also carry signals from the inner ear to the brain and have a real role in processing sound has been a matter of debate.
Now, reporting on rat experiments in the October 22 issue of Nature, a Johns Hopkins team says it has for what is believed to be the first time managed to measure and record the elusive electrical activity of the Type II neurons in the snail-shell-like structure called the cochlea. And it turns out the cells do indeed carry signals from the ear to the brain, and the sounds they likely respond to would need to be loud, such as sirens or alarms that might be even be described as painful or traumatic.
The researchers say they’ve also discovered that these sensory cells get the job done by responding to glutamate released from sensory hair cells of the inner ear. Glutamate is a workhorse neurotransmitter throughout the nervous system and it excites the cochlear neurons to carry acoustic information to the brain.
“No one thought recording them was even possible,” says Paul A. Fuchs, Ph.D., the John E. Bordley Professor of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery and co-director of the Center for Sensory Biology in the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and a co-author of the report. “We knew the Type II neurons were there and now at last we know something about what they do and how they do it.” (click headline to read entire press release)
Listen to Dr. Fuchs talk about this discovery on NPR's Talk of the Nation (Oct. 23, 2009)
David E. Tunkel, MD, Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist, Receives Award from National Medical Society
Press release by American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery: October 12,2009
Alexandria, VA – David E. Tunkel, MD, of Baltimore, MD, received the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) Distinguished Service Award at the opening ceremony of the 2009 AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO, in San Diego, CA, October 4-7, 2009.
The Academy presents Distinguished Service Awards to medical professionals in recognition of extensive meritorious service through the presentation of instructional courses, scientific papers, participation on a continuing education committee, or Academy leadership position.
Dr. Tunkel is currently the Division Director of Pediatric Otolaryngology in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the Johns Hopkins School Medicine. He also serves as the Chair of the Pediatric Otolaryngology Committee of the AAO-HNS.
Featuring more than 165 scientific research sessions, 200 posters, and over 300 instruction course hours for attendees, the AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO is the largest gathering of otolaryngologists in the world.
Read about Kofi Boahene, M.D., one of three Johns Hopkins doctors profiled in the fall issue of Hopkins Medicine, who have overcome many tough challenges and defied the odds to practice medicine.
Watch a five-minute video in which Dr. Boahene speaks about his personal journey to Hopkins.
Baltimore Jewish Times - August 28, 2009
Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow …Hair loss is a painful topic for men and women.
Hair loss is often a painful topic and one that many people don't like to discuss. In dermatologist Rebecca Kazin and hair transplantation specialist Lisa Ishii's experience, women are reluctant to make an appointment specifically for hair loss.
Lloyd Minor, M.D., Named Provost for The Johns Hopkins University
Lloyd Minor, director of the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, has been named provost and senior vice president of academic affairs for The Johns Hopkins University. Click here to view the press release about Dr. Minor's appointment.
Minor, who holds the endowed Andelot Professorship in Laryngology and Otology and has joint appointments in the departments of Biomedical Engineering and Neuroscience, will take office as the university’s 13th provost on Sept. 1.
John Niparko, M.D., professor of otolaryngology–head and neck surgery and director of the Division of Otology, Audiology, Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery, will take over as interim director of the department.
USA Today - August 18, 2009
Eyeing smaller, faster, smarter ear implants
A cochlear implant is a small, complex electronic device that helps children and adults with little or no hearing pick up sounds - including human voices, music and environmental noises, says Johns Hopkins cochlear implant surgeon John Niparko.
Johns Hopkins Health Summer 2009
Quick Consult: All Ears
Chronic ear infections and swimmer's ear are common in kids. Understanding the difference can help you know what you can do at home and when it's time to see the doctor. With Dr. David Tunkel
Hair Loss: More than a Man's Problem
Most people envision balding older men when it comes to hair loss. But hair loss affects almost as many women as men. With Dr. Lisa Ishii.
WJZ-TV (CBS) - July 14, 2009
Accidental Falls can be Deadly
Accidental falls are a leading cause of death in the elderly, killing about 13,000 seniors every year. One of the first steps in preventing dangerous falls is to have your balance tested. New research out of Johns Hopkins shows balance problems are quite common and don't just affect the elderly.
WBAL-TV (NBC) - June 14, 2009
Cleaning Out Your Ears
Keep the cotton-tipped swab away from your ears. Our medical expert, Howard Francis, M.D., Associate Professor, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, explains the potential damage they can cause and the new guidelines for keeping your ears. Watch the video
Press Release & Video - May 20, 2009
Survey Suggests Higher Risk of Falls Due to Dizziness in Middle-Aged and Older Americans
A full third of American adults, 69 million men and women over age 40, are up to 12 times more likely to have a serious fall because they have some form of inner-ear dysfunction that throws them off balance and makes them dizzy, according to Johns Hopkins experts. Read the entire story or Watch the video
WBAL-TV (NBC) - May 17, 2009
The Buzz in the Bedroom
For the roughly 40 million Americans suffering from sleep disorders, nights spent tossing and turning can become days full of irritability and melancholy.
Watch the video.
ReachMD - April 20, 2009
Getting to the Root of Hair Loss in Women
Hair loss can be a troubling situation for women. More than 30 percent of women of all ages suffer from some type of hair loss, either due to medication or medical issues. Dr. Lisa Ishii, an assistant professor of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery in the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at Johns Hopkins Medicine, talks with host Dr. Lisa Mazzullo about how to evaluate and treat hair loss for women. Listen here
WMAR-TV (ABC) - April 1, 2009
For Barry Block, this is no ordinary trip to the Listening Center at Johns Hopkins. His audiologist, Ryan Carpenter, is turning on his cochlear implant or the bionic ear he had surgically put in a month ago. To view the full story, click here
NPR "Talk of the Nation" - January 23, 2009
New Research Towards Hearing Loss Pill
Listen to Paul Fuchs, Ph.D., talk about research into a protein found on sensory hair cells in mouse ears that enabled mice to withstand loud noises, and how it could one day help human ears.
WBAL-TV (NBC) - Sept. 29, 2008
Hair Loss Affects Women, Too!
Dr. Lisa Ishii from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine discuss the root causes of hair loss in women and the latest treatments available. To view the full story click here.
The Washington Times - September 10, 2008
Ethnic Cosmetic Surgeries Rising
by Ann Geracimos
The "plastic" in plastic surgery comes from the Greek for plastikos, meaning to mold or shape - originally often with a flap of skin. Increasingly, however, the shapes and textures of the human body are changed with the use of creatively engineered man-made or petroleum byproducts - especially in cosmetic surgery.
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