Restore hearing thanks to new drug (noise-induced hearing loss)

Springer ^ | June 30, 2010 | Unknown

[decimon]

Study uncovers potential drug treatment for noise-induced hearing loss 11302_001_002_216x153 Researchers from the University of Auckland, New Zealand, have discovered that a potent new drug restores hearing after noise-induced hearing loss in rats. The landmark discovery found that injection of an agent called ‘ADAC’, activates adenosine receptors in cochlear tissues, resulting in recovery of hearing function. The finding paves the way for effective non-surgical therapies to restore hearing loss after noise-induced injury. Dr. Srdjan Vlajkovic and his team’s work1 is published in a special edition of Springer’s journal Purinergic Signalling, focusing on the inner ear. Hearing loss from noise exposure is a leading occupational disease with up to five percent of the population at risk worldwide. It is particularly common in the military and in industrial settings (construction workers, mining, forestry and airline industry). At the present time, the only treatment strategies for hearing loss are hearing aids and cochlear implants. Drug therapies for noise-induced hearing loss have only recently been proposed and, to date, there are virtually no treatments that can repair the damage to the inner ear and reduce the impact of hearing loss.

[taxcontrol]

I wonder if this will help treat tinnitus as well

[dangerdoc]

It looks like the drug needs to be given soon after the noise exposure which is a shame. Most noise induced hearing loss in humans is cumulative in nature not a single assault.

[pepperdog]

Oh that would be so wonderful. In the last years of his life I could hardly communicate with my father-in-law due to his loss of hearing from working around very loud equipment.

[far sider]

I wonder if this will help treat tinnitus as well

I would love it. Let's hope they discover that when they try it on people. (I guess it's hard to ask a lab rat if his tinnitus is better.)

[Bigh4u2]

Although they say it is best treated within 24 hours, extended expose will have benefits from it too.

“ADAC in particular emerges as an attractive pharmacological agent for therapeutic interventions in noise-induced cochlear injury in instances of both acute and extended noise exposures.”

Just how ‘long’ and extension tho, they don’t say.

[JRandomFreeper]

In the last years of his life I could hardly communicate with my father-in-law due to his loss of hearing from working around very loud equipment.

I don't know about your FIL, but that suits me just fine. If it's important for my kids to tell me something, they can send an email or show up in person so I can lip-read, because trying to say anything complicated over the phone isn't going to work at all, given their voice ranges.

I won't be seeking treatment. ;)

/johnny

[GOPJ]

Concert lovin’ baby boomers will be happy about this one..

[dangerdoc]

I hope it works for chronic problem, My right ear has been screaming since somebody cracked a hatch I was next to during Harriar take off 20 years ago.

[JoeProBono]

[pepperdog]

Oh he couldn’t hear me (and most other people) even in person, as far a phone calls I wouldn’t even try because I knew he couldn’t hear. Bbut he would call me and ask for something and I could yell YES loud enough to let him know I would do what he wanted. He wouldn’t have had a clue about email. It was so sad to see him isolated by his lack of hearing. He would sometimes pretend to hear with occasional hilarious results. He was a darling man and we loved him.