Human Hearing Loss Could Soon be Reversible

Hearing loss in human could be reversible, says a new study. Birds and reptiles have a "notch inhibitor" that regrows sensory hair cells after hearing loss. But, humans and other mammals do not have a notch inhibitor.

The forthcoming clinical trials from a Dutch company called Audion Therapeutics could help solve the hearing loss.

Temporary and Permanent Hearing Loss in Adults
Understanding various causes of hearing loss can help conserve hearing especially if it is a temporary hearing loss. Permanent hearing impairment can be managed with a proper hearing aid fitting.

‘The "notch inhibitor", found in birds and reptiles, can regrow sensory hair cells after hearing loss. By imitating the notch inhibitor, a new treatment could allow human hair cells to regrow, restoring lost hearing.’

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The development of the new drug will help regrow the sensory hair cells, which are responsible for human hearing. Over one-third of seniors suffer from hearing loss because the sensory hairs do not regenerate.

Currently, there is no treatment to recover hearing except for the purchase of a hearing aid. The key to restoring hearing is a “notch inhibitor” molecule, which Audion’s research has shown gives rise to new hair cells in lab cultures, according to Dr. Albert Edge, who works for Audion Therapeutics.

A successful drug-based on notch inhibitor molecule could be developed that would be applied to the middle ear via a foam or tube and the damaged hair would naturally regrow, restoring lost hearing.

Occupational Hearing Loss - Identification and Prevention
Noise-Induced hearing loss is one of the major avoidable causes of hearing loss and is also one of the major occupational hazards.

The results are promising, but, it is likely to take several years to before results of the study can be applied to hearing loss patients.

The article is published in The Atlantic.

Professions That Put You at Risk for Hearing Loss
People who work in professions that involve continuous exposure to loud noise are highly susceptible to noise-induced hearing.

Source-Medindia

Experts List Top Priorities For Research To Tackle Hearing Loss
The top 10 priorities includes research on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment, with the majority of treatment concerned with aspects of hearing aid provision.