New Hope for Treatment of Deaf

KOMPAS.com - Researchers studying hearing said they found a potential cure deafness caused by noise exposure.


U.S. researchers-in the findings published in the journal Neuron-say they've developed a drug that can stimulate hair cell regeneration in mice sensors.

Although the move was still in the early stages, the scientists called the finding is a step forward that could pave the way to handle the problem of acute hearing in humans.

Hearing loss usually occurs in the rock musician and DJ, and was previously considered untreatable. This problem occurs at about 250 million people around the world.

In experiments with mice, the scientists succeeded in restoring the animal's hearing due to noise.

Mechanisms same approach

Fur-ear sensor, sending a message to the brain is essential for hearing. Without feathers sensor, the hearing impaired because no signal is received brain.

Research team leader Dr. Albert Edge Harvard University School of Medicine, the United States said, "We found that the sensor feathers can grow back through the cell membrane around the ear."

"This approach may open the way someone who is having treatment for hearing loss mechanism is the same as a lot of patients," said Dr. Edge.

"The death or damage to feathers sensor that causes disruption. So, depending on the degree of hearing loss, treatment can be done would be different," he added.

Sources: http://health.kompas.com/read/2013/01/11/08201229/