University of Wisconsin–Madison

Author: lmcculley

Hearing difficulty and hearing aid use

Published November 2025 Dillard et al. Hearing loss affects many adults, but people experience its impact differently. This study looked at Wisconsin residents who said they had hearing loss and explored two things: what factors are linked to how much difficulty people feel they have hearing, and whether people who report more difficulty are more …

Factors associated with self-reported hearing difficulty on the revised hearing handicap inventory and its relationship with hearing aid use

Dillard et al. Published November 2025 In this study, researchers used data from the REACH Program to look at hearing problems and hearing aid use among adults in Wisconsin. Overall, 137 adults who reported having hearing loss completed a survey about hearing difficulties in daily life. People who started having hearing problems at younger age …

Fish consumption and awareness of fish advisories among Burmese refugees: A respondent-driven sampling study in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Xiaofei He et al. In this study, respondent-driven sampling was used to recruit Burmese refugees in Milwaukee and examine their fish consumption habits, and awareness of fish advisories. The study found that Burmese refugees, especially women of childbearing age (WCBA), frequently consumed sport-caught fish, yet the majority were unaware of fish consumption advisories for Wisconsin …

Wisconsin microbiome study, a cross-sectional investigation of dietary fiber, microbiome composition and antibiotic-resistant organisms

Shoshannah Eggers et al. This study collected and analyzed biological specimens to explore the relationship between dietary fiber intake, gut microbiota composition, and multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) colonization. The project involved collecting biospecimens from 600 Wisconsin residents, including nasal, oral, and skin swabs, saliva, and stool. These samples were analyzed for MDRO presence and used for …

Biomonitoring of PFAS from the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin (SHOW) and comparison with the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Amy Schultz et al. This study investigated the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the blood of Wisconsin residents, focusing on regional variations and potential health implications. Researchers collected and analyzed blood samples, employing high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) to accurately measure PFAS concentrations. The study identified higher levels of PFAS in …

Active transportation, physical activity and gut microbiome diversity

Elizabeth A. Holzhausen et al This study  examined the relationship between physical activity, active transportation and gut microbiome composition. Researchers analyzed existing stool samples and physical activity data from 720 Wisconsin residents who participated in the WARRIOR Study (Winning the War on Antibiotic Resistance). Dr. Holzhausen and her team found the highest levels of beneficial …