The road to more effective, less invasive, and faster developing treatments for tinnitus and loudness hyperacusis lies in focusing on the brain and not the ear.
Regrowing Hair Cells and Nerve Connections to Restore Hearing in Birds
This suggests that birds maintain a precise program for hair cell regeneration that preserves frequency-specific nerve connections, which is an important aspect of proper functional recovery.
Understanding Pain Signals Triggered by Damage to the Inner Ear
Of relevance to hyperacusis, prior noise-induced hearing loss leads to the generation of prolonged and repetitive activity in type II neurons and surrounding tissues. This aberrant signaling may be the basis for the sensitivity to everyday sounds seen in hyperacusis.
Surprising Role of Auditory Neurons in Learning Revealed by Study in Mice
These findings suggest that the auditory cortex may transmit significant non-auditory signals relevant for learning-related plasticity.
How the Brain Filters Out Tinnitus Signals in Mild Cases
As a result, increased prefrontal activity may be helpful in improving gating function (automatic filtering), a topic for future research.
Gene Therapy for Hearing Loss: Interpreting Preliminary Clinical Trial Results
Our independent analysis of the clinical trials’ published data yields the following insights on gene therapy for hearing loss from otoferlin variants. The clinical trials provide the first validation of pharmacological treatments for hearing loss.
Cochlear Organoids Reveal How Supporting Cells Differentiate Into Hair Cells
These details gleaned from this regenerative process in the mouse organoid provides insights into how mammalian supporting cells could be reprogrammed into hair cells.
Hyperacusis Research Presentation at ARO
At the 2024 Association for Research in Otolaryngology (ARO) MidWinter Meeting, held in early February in Anaheim, California, our partner Hyperacusis Research hosted a dinner where several researchers presented their latest findings.
How Neurons in the Brain Coordinate Movement and Prevent Falls
Activity by special neurons called unipolar brush cells reveals that they may introduce delays or increase the length of firing responses, and presumably extend vestibular sensory representations.
Leveling Up Awareness About Gaming and the Risk to Hearing
Potential solutions include reducing dynamic range, volume reduction when not actively participating in the game, and actively reducing sounds that are known to induce tinnitus, or hearing ringing or buzzing sounds.