reversing/curing hearing loss (part 2)

Ouabache

Quote by moe darklight, 27Jun2007

is science anywhere near being able to reverse hearing loss, like with stem cells or otherwise?

it just terrifies me to some day lose my hearing an no longer be able to enjoy music as I do now.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Quote by holycow1, 19Jun2003

Does anyone know any more in-depth information on Sensorineural hearing loss .... is it 100% not curable or is there a chance that it can be?

moe & holycow1, since you made these queries, recent research suggests certain types of hearing loss is reversible; specifically sensorineural (that has resulted in senescence of receptor hair cells in the cochlea).

A group of researchers from Massachusetts Eye and Ear Harvard Medical School have shown that hair cells can be regenerated by a using a drug to provoke cells that live inside the ear to become new hair cells. This brings about partial hearing recovery in mice with previously damaged ears.

This discovery holds great promise for future use in possibly reversing deafness in humans.

reference 1 medical news today

reference 2 Journal Neuron 9 Jan 2013.
Notch inhibition induces cochlear hair cell regeneration and recovery of hearing after acoustic trauma.

BenG549

Quote by Ouabache

recent research suggests certain types of hearing loss is reversible; specifically the sensorineural type (resulting in senescence of receptor hair cells in the cochlea).

This is incredible! I studied hearing loss very briefly as a student of acoustics. Although, as you said, this only refers to a specific type of hearing loss, it is fantastic!

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