Hearing Loss Treatments - Stem Cell And Gene Therapy For Hearing Loss

Since the large majority of hearing loss is caused by damage to cochlear hair cells, one promising medical remedy that can at least partially restore hearing in some people with hearing loss is hair cell regeneration. A new way of using embryonic stem cells that causes inner ear hair cells to repair or replace themselves may lead the way to new drug and surgical cures and remedies in the sphere of hearing loss treatments.

Degeneration of inner ear hair cells leading to hearing impairment can result from birth defects, wear and tear of the ears, side effects from drugs, and aging. Studies of the inner ear of chickens and mice revealed the option of creating hair cells in the millions for biochemical research and kindled the belief that stem cell treatment can be used in the hearing loss treatment of humans in the future. These cells can be used to screen drugs that may make it possible to stimulate regeneration of hair cells to restore hearing.

Although what is true for chicken embryos isn't necessarily so for humans, the leap from the chick embryo to the mammalian ear is not a trivial one. These research finding may lead to the ability to transplant differentiated hair stem cells into human ears and the treatment of hearing loss in humans. However, this would require major improvements in surgical techniques beyond those currently in use, which could destroy hearing completely through the treatments.

Both gene therapy and stem cell therapy are promising advances for biological treatment of loss of hearing and it is possible that a combination of the two technologies will get us closer to remedies for hearing loss.

Hair cell regeneration treatments and the related stem cell research offer what is probably the best hope for hearing restoration in the next few years.

About The Author:

William Pensworth is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.digital-hearing-aids-n-protection.com. Find out more about hearing loss, so you can choose the digital hearing aids or therapy that is necessary.