SCHOOLCHILDREN NEED HEARING TEST

As U.S. children return to school, healthcare providers urge parents to have their children's hearing tested. One in every 3,000 children is born with hearing loss. Studies indicate children with hearing loss are 10 times as likely to be held back at least one grade compared to students with normal hearing, but with early diagnosis, a young student with hear- ing loss can still have success, according to a statement by Siemens. By missing a few words when someone is talking to them, children's language and learning ability can be hurt. However, children can be fitted with hearing aids to give them the same benefits as children with full hearing.

AFTER LONG-TERM PLACEMENT, MORE STRESS

Some caregivers think their stress will drop once an elderly relative is placed in a long term facility, but they actually suffer more emotional trauma. The University of Pittsburgh study is the first to provide a comprehensive analysis of the emotional turmoil caregivers experience in placing a loved one with dementia in a long-term care facility. "Caregivers have to face new challenges such as frequent trips to the long-term care facility, reduced control over the care provided to their relative, and taking on responsibilities such as coordinating and monitoring care," says study leader Richard Schulz. "This study shows that we need to help caregivers who place their relatives." The findings appear in Journal of the American Medical Association.

HIBISCUS HAS HEALTH BENEFITS

Hibiscus flower extract may have the same health benefits as red wine and tea, according to researchers in Taiwan. The findings, published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, says hibiscus, often used in soft drinks and tea, contains antioxidants that help control cholesterol levels and reduce heart disease.

BLUEBERRIES MAY CUT CHOLESTEROL

A compound in blueberries may lower cholesterol as well as a prescription drug and with fewer side effects, a U.S. researcher says. Study leader Agnes M. Rimando, a chemist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service, says the compound, pterostilbene, an antioxidant similar to resveratrol found in grapes and red wine, has the potential to lower cholesterol, particularly for those who don't respond well to conventional drugs. The same compound has been found to fight cancer and may have anti-diabetic properties as well. However, Rimando, who presented the finding to the national meeting of the American Chemical Society, cautions that until studies are conducted in humans, no one knows how many blueberries a person needs to eat to have a positive effect at lowering cholesterol.