Health Quarterly April 2025
A Special Supplement to the
Artificial Intelligence in Hearing Technology
Article By: Dr David Groesch, centrAl illinois HeAring
Like it or not Artificial Intelligence (AI) is here to stay. It has the capability of taking your pizza order to solving complex medical conditions or solving one of the most vexing problems affecting people with hearing loss. Understanding speech.
The human brain is the most powerful processor, naturally good at filtering sounds in noisy environments, so people can instinctively tune in to what they want to hear. When challenged with hearing loss, the brain does not receive the right input to take advantage of this natural ability. This is why hearing aids are increasingly employing AI to provide extra help with hearing noise when needed, so the brain can do what it is naturally good at, preserving natural hearing processing.
The concept of AI in hearing aids is too vast even for this author to fully explain but I’ll try. AI is best explained as an algorithm with brainlike logical structures called Deep Neural Networks capable of making decisions after being trained with vast amounts of data. To train a DNN, the algorithm is shown many pairs of inputs and labled outputs.
The algorithm then must “learn” for itself what rules can be used to arrive at the correct output for any given input through
repeated attempts and continuous feedback about those attempts. It uses information from the past to make more accurate and faster predictions. By having a large dataset with plenty of variability, the DNN will be able to generalize -in other words, to handle data it has never seen in training. Are you still with me? Not too complicated, right?
Here’s an analogy, if a data set contained 10 pictures of horses, the DNN might correctly identify a new picture of a horse 5% of the time. The other 95% of the time it might think it is looking at a dog or a table. If the training set contained 10,000 pictures of a horse, then the DNN is likely to identify a new picture of a horse almost 100% of the time. So, like the human brain the more a hearing aid receives similar sounds, it will learn to identify those sounds as “important” sounds and will be better able to recognize patterns and make decisions. Ultimately what the human brain does with this sound depends on the severity of one’s hearing loss, but for most hearingimpaired people it’s a vast improvement. AI development in hearing aids technology is just emerging and I can’t think of anything where AI holds more promise than in hearing aids. If this blows your mind, did you know that some hearing aids can monitor your heart rate, amount of daily exercise and fall detection? Welcome to life in the 21st century!
Simple ways to make a diet more nutritious
Nutritious foods are a cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle. The World Health Organization says a healthy diet protects a person against many chronic noncommunicable diseases, such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Nutritious foods also help a person get to or maintain a healthy weight, promote stronger bones and teeth, and positively affect long-term mental health.
People often wonder how they can improve their daily diets. Here are some ways to make meals more nutritious.
• Eat an array of fruits and vegetables. Healthline notes a diet rich in fruits and vegetables has been proven to offer many health benefits. Incorporating a variety of fruits and vegetables into the meals eaten each day will provide fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Vegetables also are low in calories and fat, which aligns with diets designed for weight management. Health experts suggest eating greens and other vegetables first so that you fill up and are therefore less likely to eat fewer, less nutritious foods during each meal.
• Consume sufficient healthy sources of protein. Protein is important for managing hunger and sustaining energy and maintaining muscle. Lean sources of protein are best, and can include skinless poultry, unprocessed lean meats, seafood and fish, legumes, and nuts. Eggs also are excellent sources of protein. Fish tends to be low
in calories for the amount of protein it provides. Try to incorporate oily fish like salmon into your culinary repertoire since it’s a source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
• Choose whole grain carbohydrates. When selecting breads, cereals, rices, and other carbohydrates, select higher fiber or whole grain varieties. Whole grains contain more fiber than white or refined starches and will help you feel fuller longer.
• Cut down on saturated fats and sugars. Be mindful of food labels when selecting ingredients for meals. Opt for foods that are low in saturated fats, which tend to contribute to an increase in the amount of cholesterol in the blood. Also, regularly consuming foods and beverages high in sugar increases a person’s risk for obesity and tooth decay, says the National Health Service of the United Kingdom.
• Practice additional smart eating tips. In addition to the foods eaten, there are ways to eat in a more healthy manner. Slow down when eating and savor the foods. Gauge whether you feel full before going back for another portion. Eating foods off a smaller plate can trick the brain into thinking you ate more, a tactic that can help to reduce portion sizes. Cook and prepare more foods at home where you can control ingredients.
Eating healthy, nutritious foods is a key to long-term well-being.
It’s personal . So are we.
Article By: Rebecca Budde, siU Medicine
Rhonda, age 58, spent years in silence, struggling with pain she felt was too personal to discuss. It was easier to endure the discomfort than bring it up—even with her husband of 38 years. Despite seeing multiple health care providers, she often left appointments with more questions than answers, hesitant to share the deeply personal issues affecting her quality of life.
And then, Rhonda met Team SIU.
What started as an itchy scalp turned into painful sores and hair loss. SIU dermatologist Dr. Rebecca Larsen diagnosed Rhonda with lichens planus, a painful, inflammatory autoimmune condition affecting the skin and mucous membranes.
For a while, Rhonda managed the symptoms, but lichens planus is known to resurface in other areas with force.
In 2016, when she saw OBGYN nurse practitioner Kaylie Caswell for a routine exam, everything had changed. In a few months since Kaylie last saw her the condition had evolved and affected not just her scalp, but her genitals. Rhonda’s pain was unbearable, making even the simplest daily activities like sitting, walking and using the restroom excruciating.
“She was in a full-body flare. She was scared and embarrassed,” Kaylie recalls. “She didn’t want to talk about it, so we went at her pace.”
Kaylie, who specializes in sexual medicine at SIU Medicine’s Pelvic Wellness Center, knew with the right approach—and the right team— she could change
Rhonda’s life. Together, they found a treatment plan that worked. Kaylie adjusted her medications, provided pain relief options and referred her to SIU Medicine’s OB-GYN vulvar expert, Dr. Katherine Hild-Mosley.
The road to relief was not easy. Rhonda tried everything from topical treatments to chemotherapy medications and antibiotics, each with its own side effects. But the emotional toll was just as overwhelming as the physical pain. “I felt ashamed about my situation. I was so embarrassed to talk to a doctor about any of it,” she admits.
Kaylie made it clear that the Pelvic Wellness Center was a safe space for difficult conversations.
“Society has made talking about genitals and sexual health a taboo, but ignoring the problem won’t make it go away,” Kaylie explains. “It just leaves people feeling lost, alone and ashamed.”
Her persistent support and willingness to teach made a difference. Once Rhonda understood why and how each treatment worked, she saw improvements. Beyond treatment, Kaylie went the extra mile—literally. At one appointment, she left her office to retrieve medication from another building so Rhonda could feel immediate relief.
At SIU Medicine, care goes beyond prescriptions and procedure. It’s about being a true partner in health. In 2023 when new symptoms raised concerns of cancer, Kaylie didn’t just provide medical expertise, she provided unwavering support.
“I was a mess,” Rhonda recalls. “Kaylie called me on a Saturday night—her day off—to give me the good news that it wasn’t cancer. It was another autoimmune issue, lichen sclerosis.”
One of the most significant milestones in Rhonda’s journey came in 2023 when she returned to the Pelvic Wellness Center after a years-long absence. This time, she had a goal: she wanted to have painfree intimacy with her partner again.
“The situation has had a big impact on my marriage. We may be old, but we’re not dead,” Rhonda says with a smile. “Most people think you should just suffer through it, or they were taught to. But Kaylie doesn’t let that happen. She takes care of you emotionally and physically if you’re her patient.”
Within just a few months of treatment, Rhonda achieved that goal for the first time in seven years.
A key factor in Rhonda’s success was the involvement of her partner. “It takes two to tango,” Kaylie says. “Most partners don’t want to cause pain during intimacy, but they may not know how to help. I encourage partners to attend appointments when the patient is comfortable with it. It makes a difference when they can hear firsthand what’s happening and how they can be supportive.”
For Kaylie, stories like Rhonda’s reinforce why she approaches medicine with a mix of expertise, empathy and advocacy.
“I grew up in a society where we aren’t supposed to talk about these things, but at the same time, you’re expected to just know. That’s not fair,” she says. “No one should have to suffer in silence.” Kaylie’s dedication, training and expertise have made her SIU Medicine’s newest specialist for patients with vulvar health concerns.
At the Pelvic Wellness Center, care is a team effort. “From the front desk to the providers, we’re building trust
at every step,” Kaylie says. “With every provider they see, they trust us with a little more of their story.” That trust leads to better care and, ultimately, better outcomes. “When one of our patients makes progress, we all celebrate. And when they have setbacks, we work together to help them find the next step forward.”
“I don’t have a magic wand to fix everything, and my heart aches when people are in discomfort,” she confesses. “But my passion and hard work pay off when my patients see light at the end of the tunnel.”
Rhonda’s experience is a testament to SIU Medicine’s commitment to treating
the whole person—not just their medical issues. From dermatology to OB-GYN and pelvic health specialists, her care has been a collaborative effort. “If you need Kaylie to kick ass for you, she will,” Rhonda says. “She’s all in. If she doesn’t have the resources, she finds someone who does. Everyone involved in my care at SIU helped me in some way.”
“Be brave,” Kaylie urges those experiencing health hardships. “Start the hard conversation. Your voice is an important part of this teamwork toward better health.”
A healthy approach to weight loss
Though people attempting to lose weight may love a quick fix or magic pill that could shed excess pounds, successful efforts that produce long-term weight loss generally take considerable time and effort. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says people who lose weight at a gradual, steady pace tend to keep the weight off. The CDC advises individuals to aspire to lose one to two pounds each week.
Working in concert with a doctor or a registered dietician is one of the ways to ensure that the weight loss experience is successful and healthy. In addition to following the advice of a professional, these tips can help.
• Think of it as a lifestyle change. Managing weight is a lifelong commitment. That means that following a short-term diet may not prove a successful way to lose weight and keep it off in the long run. It’s important to put strategies in place that will help change habits that may be contributing to weight gain.
• Set short-term goals. Certainly the overall goal may be to lose a set number of pounds. But having that goal in the distance may make it seem less achievable. Rather, set small goals throughout a weight loss journey. This can be something like a plan to replace sugary drinks with water, or to exercise three days a week instead of being sedentary most of the time.
• Be sure the time is right. Some people jump in at the start of the new year, even if they are not mentally ready to commit or lack the time to make the overhaul necessary to affect change. Begin a weight-loss journey when
you have a strong desire to change habits and are not distracted by other pressures.
• Tame stress as much as possible. High levels of stress can derail weightloss plans. Many people turn to foods, beverages and other unhealthy habits as a means to coping with stress. The Cleveland Clinic says stress raises cortisol levels, which increases insulin production. The resulting low blood sugar makes people crave sugary, fatty foods. The Mayo Clinic suggests speaking with a health care professional if you need help taking charge of stress.
• Change your perceptions. Focus on what you can eat rather than what you can’t eat. Healthy weight loss means finding balance and enjoying the foods you love, but not going overboard. Restricting any one food or food group could lead you on a path to feeling resentful or even binging on unhealthy items.
• Don’t skip meals. Seriously restricting food intake is not healthy at all and could lead to fluctuations in weight. An eating pattern that includes a cycle of weight loss and weight gain can contribute to an increased risk of coronary heart disease, says Better Health, a resource of the Australian Department of Health. Plan meals to meet your daily calorie count, being sure to avoid skipping any during the day.
Healthy weight loss takes time and requires changing habits over the long haul.
Common exercise injuries and how to avoid them
Routine exercise is one of the pillars of a healthy lifestyle. Daily physical activity can help fend off a host of issues that can adversely affect quality of life and long-term health. But exercise carries the possibility of injury, and avoiding injuries involves both recognition of that risk and knowledge of what can be done to avoid issues that can sideline individuals looking to physical activity as a means to staying healthy.
Shoulder injuries
The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases notes that exercises and sports that involve repetitive motion can contribute to various shoulder injuries. For example, an impingement can occur when the top of the shoulder blade applies pressure to the soft tissue beneath as the arm is lifted. Swimming is a highly effective and beneficial exercise, but the NIAMS notes it can increase the risk for impingement. The Cleveland Clinic notes that shoulder impingements may be classified as rotator cuff tendinitis, shoulder bursitis or acromion deformity, while adding that impingements are estimated to be responsible for around half of all instances of shoulder pain. Shoulder impingement prevention strategies include warming up and cooling down prior to exercising. Such an approach can loosen muscles and prepare them for exercise. In addition, the Cleveland Clinic advises wearing the right attire for exercise and urges individuals to stop exercising the moment they feel pain. If pain persists, visit a health care provider before exercising again.
Elbow injuries
Elbow injuries also are common among individuals who engage in activities that require repetitive use. Such injuries may include tennis elbow, which is caused by the development of small tears in the tendons of the elbow that can wear them down and result in painful
inflammation, and golfer’s elbow, which begins with pain in the inner part of the elbow but can spread to the forearm and wrist. The names of such injuries suggest tennis players and golfers are particularly vulnerable to them, but various physical therapy experts note that repetitive activities such as weightlifting can contribute to these conditions as well. Orthopedic professionals emphasize the importance of stretching arm and hand muscles regularly to reduce the risk of elbow injuries. In addition, avoiding overuse, which can happen when physically active individuals do not incorporate off days into their workout regimens, can help to reduce risk for elbow injuries.
Knee injuries
The NIAMS notes that the joints are particularly susceptible to injury since so much is asked of them, particularly during physical activities. So it’s no surprise that knee injuries join issues affecting the shoulders and elbows among the concerns physically active individuals must be aware of. According to the NIAMS, a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) can occur when the knee is overextended or twisted, while runner’s knee affects runners, hikers and cyclists and causes pain or tenderness under the kneecap or at the front of the knee. Torn ACLs might be most associated with physically active individuals who play sports like soccer and basketball, but improper form while lifting weights also can put stress on the knee, potentially leading to a tear in the ligament. Johns Hopkins Medicine recommends various strategies to individuals hoping to reduce their risk for runner’s knee, including stretching before and after physical activity and running leaning forward with knees bent.
Physical activity is vital to longterm health, but individuals must be aware of injuries that can arise during physical activity and what can be done to prevent them.
How deep breathing exercises can help alleviate stress
Stress is a normal part of life that is not always as bad as it may seem. For example, a 2013 study from researchers at the University of California, Berkeley found that acute stress caused stems in the brains of rats to proliferate into new nerve cells that ultimately improved the animals’ mental performance. That led researchers to conclude that intermittent stressful events can improve alertness, which in turn can help individuals perform better.
When noting the potentially positive effects of stress, it’s important to note that those rewards are only reaped when stress is acute. VeryWellMind notes acute stress is commonly experienced a few times each day in the face of an immediate threat. Prolonged stress, often referred to as chronic stress, is dangerous, as it can contribute to conditions like high blood pressure that increase individuals’ risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke. Combatting chronic stress may require lifestyle changes and the adoption of additional strategies, including breathing techniques. Skeptics may question the
efficacy of breathing as a means to combatting stress. However, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing notes that studies have determined breathing exercises can help to alleviate stress by tricking the brain into thinking a person is in a different emotional state than he or she is actually in. When a person is confronting a stressful situation, breathing speeds up and becomes irregular and shallow. Breathing exercises help people slow down their breathing, thus tricking the brain into thinking a person is in a calm state where no threat is perceived.
Deep breathing exercises can help people confront stressful situations, and WebMD offers a guideline people can look to as they to seek to calm their nerves.
Deep breathing
WebMD notes that short, shallow breaths into the chest are common but can contribute to feelings of anxiety and fatigue. Deep breathing techniques are designed to teach people how to take bigger breaths. A deep breathing exercise can begin after a person finds a comfortable
position and then breathes in through the nose and lets the belly fill with air. Then breathe out through the nose before placing one hand on the belly and the other on the chest. Feel the belly rise as you breathe in and then feel it lower as you breathe out. Take three additional full, deep breaths. Focus can help make a deep breathing exercise more effective. WebMD recommends using a picture in your mind and a word or phrase to help relax you. Close the eyes before taking a handful of big, deep breaths. When breathing in, imagine the air is filled with a sense of peace and calm. When breathing out, imagine stress is leaving with that exhaled air. A word or phrase can be utilized when breathing in and out to reinforce these feelings. WebMD recommends continuing these exercises for 10 to 20 minutes. Wellness involves various strategies designed to promote better overall health, and such approaches include ways to combat stress. Deep breathing exercises are a simple and accessible means to navigating stressful situations.
