Researchers Unveil Mechanism of How Brain Balances Hearing Between the Ears

The biological process of how the brain balances the hearing between two ears is revealed. The balance is essential to localize sound and hear in noisy conditions and for protection from noise damage.

A team from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) sought to understand the biological process behind the 'olivocochlear' hearing control reflex.

Single Side Deafness in India Being Treated with 'Bone Anchored Hearing Aid'
With close to 200,000 new cases of single side deafness being diagnosed in India every year, you can opt for this treatment at the cost of Rs.2.5 lakh.

"The balance of hearing between the ears is dependent upon this neural reflex that links the cochlea of each ear via the brain's auditory control center," explained senior researcher Gary Housley.

Our hearing is so sensitive that we can hear a pin drop and that is because of the "cochlear amplifier" in our inner ear. This stems from outer hair cells in the cochlea which amplify sound vibrations.

In animal experiments, the team found that the cochlear's outer hair cells, which amplify sound vibrations, also provide the sensory signal to the brain via a small group of auditory nerve fibers of previously unknown function.

Research Points to Potential Way to Restore Hearing
There's a cast of characters deep inside your ears -- many types of tiny cells are working together to allow you to hear.

In mice lacking the sensory fiber connection to the cochlear outer hair cells, loud sound presented to one ear had no effect on hearing sensitivity in the other ear.

In normal mice, this produced an almost instant suppression of hearing. The researchers speculate that some of the hearing loss that humans experience as they age may be related to the gradual breakdown of this sensory fiber connection to the outer hair cells.

In Kids With Hearing Implants, Slowed Language Development Doesn't Predict Bad Behavior
At The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, researchers conducted a longitudinal study of children with hearing loss, including some with cochlear implants.

The ultimate goal is for cochlear implants in both ears to communicate with each other so that the brain can receive the most accurate soundscape possible.

The research is published in the Journal Nature Communications

New Study Identifies the Hearing Requirements of British Soldiers
With assistance from the Ministry of Defence, University of Southampton researchers have conducted their first study to identify the hearing requirements of British soldiers fighting on the frontline.

Source-Medindia