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Subscribe to RSSScientists have sniffed out a novel idea to stop hearing loss in its tracks: A new procedure essentially provides a way for people to hear with their noses. (Can you smell me now?)
Australian scientists say that taking stem cells from the nose and transplanting them to the ear may help preserve hearing for those whose auditory problems begin in infancy or childhood, according to a new study published Thursday in the journal Stem Cells. The research focused on early-onset sensorineural hearing loss, which is caused by a loss of sensory cells or neurons in the cochlea. (That's the part of the inner ear that holds the actual sensory organ of hearing.)
It was a study in mice, but the researchers believe the findings may apply to human ears, too. A team of scientists, led by Dr. Sharon Oleskevich of the University of New South Wales, injected mucosa-derived stem cells (ick) into the cochlea of mice who were showing signs that their hearing was deteriorating. (Mice were used in the study because the way early hearing loss works in the little critters is similar to the way it works in humans.)
“One of the challenges in tackling this condition is that the regenerative ability of the human cochlea is severely limited," Oleskevich said in a statement. “It has been proposed that the transplantation of cells from other parts of the body could treat, prevent or even reverse hearing loss. The transplanted cells have the potential to repair tissue by replacing damaged cells and enhancing the survival of existing cells, preventing the condition from developing further.”
A month later, researchers tested each mouse's hearing threshold, using an auditory brainstem response test, which measures the lowest sound level to which the brain responds -- and the mice with the transplanted nasal stem cells did better when compared to mice without.
This is the craziest story I've smelled all day. What about you? What do you think of the new research?
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When I first saw the articles title, I said to myself, "I KNEW IT!". Then I read the article. When I thought I KNEW IT, it was due to me not being able to block noises. even with the best ear plugs I can hear. I figured I must be hearing through my nose somehow, because of chronic sinusitus, and upper jaw ailments. The nose and ear are connected - you blow your nose, your ears can pop. If you use a sinus rinse, your are instructed to be careful, how you blow your nose, and tilt your head, so that the liquid doesnt end up in your ears. So, while the article is interesting, it wasnt what I had thought it would be. Transferring cells is a whole different matter to me. I think it is great news for those with hearing problems, and can provide a possible help to them someday.
Your'e still hearing with your ear, they just took cells from your nose to help your hearing.... you're not hearing THROUGH your nose. Bad reporting... at least a bad title... in my opinion.
NO WAY! I will never let it to me! I am Deaf. I will stay Deaf 'til Death.
That is your choice. I don't understand it myself, and cannot identify with it at all. I've been hard of hearing my whole life with the threat of becoming totally deaf at some point in my life. If there is something that can be done to at the very least maintain what I have now - I will take it. Deaf Culture is just not for me - and whether you like it or not - it places you at a distinct disadvantage in dealing with society.
Exactly the problem I have. Would give it a try. How great if it worked.
What's smell got to do with it? That was just a cheap gimmick to draw in more readers.
Hmmmn... interesting, but what about losing hearing later on. I started losing my hearing about 6 years ago when I was 23 and it seems to be steadily declining. This sounds like something that wouldnt work for someone in my situation. I'm desperate to find some sort of solution other than hearing aids that dont work well :(
I feel for you Beanimal. I've been hard of hearing my whole life but have been lucky to benefit from hearing aids. However, I recently had a sudden, significant loss of hearing in my so-called "good ear" (I am severe to profoundly hard of hearing) and this has been devastating.
Medication is helping my hearing to come back, but if it didn't, this study would be of significant interest to me. I have been told I do qualify for a cochlear implant, but I have mixed feelings about that. It cannot be reversed, so if it doesn't work, you are deaf in that ear for life.
Stem cell research is very, very promising.
BJs65-634377,
that same thing happened to me...i was severely hard of hearing but could hear with hearing aids...just lost complete sound in my good ear a year ago...just wondering, what kind of medication helps with that?? guess i should go to the doctor myself, but can't afford it and i'm just wondering...
I'd like to find more information on this. My daughter would more than likely be interested if she's a viable candidate.
I did some research for you. They are testing hair cell regeneration on large mammals with good results. Audiologists are working on candidate criteria and what formal hearing assessments need to be completed to find appropriate candidates for stem cell regeneration.
This would be wonderful for elderly people and those who deal with loud noises all day (soldiers, police, firefighters, etc). It would finally do away with those clumsy and breakable hearing aids, and allow people to hear normally again, given enough stem cells.
Dear medical people: stop sinking money into Viagra-like crap and start funding THIS. This is a very worthy cause. Increasing deafness should be covered by insurance, but it isn't. Our society depends on hearing, speech and vision, so give this possibility every dime you can spare (and more!).
AMEN!!
medical breakthroughs in hearing loss are few and far between. other than cochlea implants and hearing aids, nothing none mechanical seems to come along. we need something that can offer the deaf and hard of hearing the same option that lasix offers the people with poor eyesight. billions of dollars could be made and those really annoying hearing aids can be sent to museums where they belong. it's amazing that after all this time, not one reasonable solution to hearing loss has been developed.
I know. I've resented that myself. I guess hearing imparment is easy to ignore. We also have those who are deaf who resent any research that could restore hearing because they feel it's a threat to their "deaf culture". I'm sorry - I do not identify with that at all.
I hope that this discovery leads to help for those of us who suffer from hearing loss. I suffered sudden hearing loss in one ear at the age of 50. One day I had great hearing and the next I experienced total deafness in one ear. The diagnosis of profound deafness was devastating. No one who has not experienced this can truly understand the isolation that this problem causes.
Both my son and daughter were born profoundly deaf, they are now 4 and 7. They both received cochlear implants around 16 months of age. My son is now in the 2nd grade and performing at grade level or above in all subjects with no additional support services other than his cochlear implants. On average profoundly deaf children left unaided perform dramatically lower than their hearing peers on standardized measures of academic achievement.
The University of Michigan implant center recommended we only implant with 1 cochlear implant and leave the other ear open to the possibility of regrowing the cilia using stem cells (the topic of this article). Note; once you choose a cochlear implant you can no longer go back and attempt stem cell implantation. The advice to wait for a stem cell cure, which was just around the corner, was from 6 years ago.
My wife and myself did not wait to have a 2nd cochlear implant surgery performed and I am still sure it was the correct decision. The brain of a small child has only a short time window to start receiving and processing auditory input, if left unstimulated past age 4 the hope for proficient language acquisition is dramatically reduced.
Stem cell research offers hope for gaining/regaining hearing in young children born perhaps around 2017, here and now cochlear implants are the best choice for auditory language development and the mainstreaming of children by kindergarten.
can you smell me now! this is great stuff!
Please provide information on the availability of aa e-mail address for the people who are making this possible. My husband has been deaf all of his life with a 95% loss in one ear and a 98% loss the other ear from spinal meningitis at the age of three. This is very important news for people like him. Please post whatever information you can. Thank you so much.
Sheila
This would be a dream come true (bilaterally hard of hearing since birth). I would love to hear what everyone else hears, the first time.