Hearing loss Archives

From mice to men: Will we soon be able to restore hearing loss?

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Brandon Cox investigates regenerated hair cells in the neonatal cochlea of mice.

Globally, hearing impairment is a common disability – especially among elderly adults. Hearing loss caused by damaged sensory receptor cells (hair cells) inside the ear cannot be reversed – and regeneration of this type of cell does not occur in humans. Associate Professor Brandon Cox and colleagues at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, USA, have been studying the regeneration […]

Personalised strategies for cochlear implant surgery and hearing rehabilitation

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Aarno Dietz and fellow researchers investigate the efficacy of cochlear implant surgery and aim to improve hearing rehabilitation while raising awareness of the safety of cochlear implant surgery under local anaesthetic.

Hearing loss is a common problem that usually develops with older age, affecting communication and making everyday life extremely difficult. If left untreated, it can lead to memory loss, social isolation, and mental health problems. Cochlear implants (CI) are an effective solution where hearing aids can’t help, but they are not fitted as often as they could be, as clinicians […]

Usher syndrome: Recent advances in our understanding of genes and therapeutics

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Dr Aziz El-Amraoui and Dr Gwenaelle Geleoc research Usher syndrome, a genetic mutation in the USH1, USH2 and USH3 genes that causes hearing loss and vision loss.

Usher syndrome is a rare disease that affects the sensory systems of vision, hearing, and balance. Recent advances in scientific technologies reveal the genes involved in Usher syndrome, their varying phenotypic outcomes, and avenues for therapeutic development. Dr Aziz El-Amraoui of the Pasteur Institute in Paris, France, and Dr Gwenaelle Géléoc of Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in […]

Hearing loss: who gains the most from cochlear implants?

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The ability to hear is arguably the most crucial sense for people’s happiness.

Hearing loss can cause severe disabilities and impair daily life. Cochlear implants may be an option for those who experience extreme deafness, but there are long waiting lists for potential recipients in countries with limited healthcare options. Paula Greenham of Greenham Research Consulting has investigated what factors are most likely to result in improved quality of life for individuals requiring […]

Transtympanic injections to prevent hearing loss caused by cisplatin

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Combination therapies with an otoprotectant may help to prevent hearing loss caused by chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin.

Dr Sofia Waissbluth from The Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile is specialised in otolaryngology (conditions of the head and neck). She has reviewed clinical trials that use transtympanic injections to prevent hearing loss caused by the chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin. To date there is no ‘one-shot’ solution to protect or cure patients from hearing loss. However, combinational therapy using transtympanic injections […]

Let’s hear it for the proteome

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Hearing loss is one of the most common sensory impairments, affecting 250 million people worldwide. The causes of deafness, such as exposure to loud noise, are relatively well known, but exactly how they result in hearing loss remains unclear. Dr Jeffrey Savas, Assistant Professor of Neurology at Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, USA, heads up a lab dedicated to […]