{"id":1729,"date":"2020-01-31T14:22:34","date_gmt":"2020-01-31T19:22:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/augustaent.com\/?p=1729"},"modified":"2020-02-05T13:54:37","modified_gmt":"2020-02-05T18:54:37","slug":"can-hearing-loss-be-reversed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/augustaent.com\/can-hearing-loss-be-reversed\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Hearing Loss Be Reversed?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When the\nhair cells within the inner ear become damaged from old age or exposure to loud\nnoise, they cannot regrow. While this cause of hearing loss was previously\nthought to be irreversible, new research may have a solution. <\/p>\n\n\n

The Inner Ear<\/h2>\n\n\n
\"baby's<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The inner ear<\/a> contains hair cells that transform soundwaves into electrical impulses. The electric signals are then sent via the auditory nerve to the brain where they are interpreted as sound. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The hair cells lack the ability to divide and regenerate, so when they are damaged by natural aging or exposure to loud noises, the process cannot be reversed. <\/p>\n\n\n

New Hearing Loss Research<\/h2>\n\n\n

A study\npublished last month in Nature\nCommunications<\/em> may have found a method to regrow these damaged hair\ncells. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conducted by a team of researchers from Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, the study looked at a new strategy to induce cell division in the mature inner ear<\/a>. Researchers were able to reprogram the cells in the inner ear of adult mice to regenerate hair cells. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zheng-Yi Chen, senior author,\nassociate professor of otolaryngology head and neck surgery and an associate\nscientist, explains, \u201cThis paper is the first to show that, by reprogramming,\nmature mammalian inner-ear cells can be induced to divide and become hair\ncells, which are needed for hearing.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Renewed proliferation in adult mouse cochlea and regeneration of hair\ncells gives hope to the more than 48 million Americans living with\nhearing loss. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All human inner ears<\/a> are considered fully mature, even those of a newborn baby. The researchers set out to \u201cdemonstrate that cell division and hair cell regeneration can be achieved in a mature mammalian inner ear.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They did this through a\nreprogramming approach of activating two molecular signals in the adult ear and\nfound that they could induce the cells to divide. Chen explained, \u201cOur work\nrevealed that reprogramming is achieved by reactivation of early inner-ear\ndevelopmental genes so that the mature inner ear regains neonatal properties,\nwhich enables them to redivide and regenerate.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n

Next Steps<\/h2>\n\n\n

While the findings of this study are very introductory, they pave the way for a new way to think about hearing loss treatments<\/a>. Chen\u2019s laboratory is working on finding druglike molecules that can achieve the same cell division and hair cell regeneration.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practical applications of this study are many years in the future, but that should not stop you from seeking treatment for your hearing loss now. Schedule an appointment with one of the hearing experts at Augusta ENT today.<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

Learn more about Hearing Loss and Treatment<\/h2>\n\n\n