Can Hearing Loss Be Cured by Hearing Aids?

Treatment for Different Hearing Loss Types

There are three main types of hearing loss, which require different treatment methods.

1. Conductive Hearing Loss

If you are diagnosed with conductive hearing loss, it means that sound cannot effectively pass through the external auditory canal to the eardrum and the small bones within your ears. It is related to various causes, including ear infections, congenital malformations of the outer or middle ear etc. Surgery (especially for congenital causes) or medication (such as antibiotics for ear infections) are usually used as treatment.

2. Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Also known as nerve-related hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss is caused by damage in the inner ear or the nerve that connects the inner ear to the brain. The main causes of this type of hearing loss include head trauma, prolonged exposure to noise, disease, ototoxic drugs (drugs that damage hearing), and ageing. We do not know how to repair or replace inner ear cells once they are damaged. However, immediate medical help can slow down hearing health deterioration.

3. Mixed Hearing Loss

Mixed hearing loss is primarily caused by chronic suppurative otitis media or advanced otosclerosis. This could be treatable, especially with early medical attention. In the later stage, people usually wear hearing aids.

How Hearing Aids Help You Hear

In the mean time, hearing aids have been proven over and over again to help patients suffering from hearing loss to be able to participate in conversation, and hear the world around them. Hearing aids work with your existing hearing to amplify the sounds your ear picks up and supplements sounds you would otherwise miss. If your hearing loss is severe then cochlear implants can be used to make sure you can pick up the most auditory information possible to be able to navigate the world. Hearing is a very important sense that keeps us connected to our loved ones, our bodies, and our lives. Don’t let your hearing loss go untreated and live a life full of healthy sounds.

The Ongoing Search for a Hearing Loss Cure

For decades, researchers in labs worldwide have been working to find a cure for hearing loss. In particular, they have been working on a cure for sensorineural hearing loss.

So far, no cure is available, but will there ever be a cure for sensorineural hearing loss?

Perhaps.

There are several ongoing projects which seem promising, and a hearing loss cure could be on the horizon:

Stem Cell Research

Researchers are investigating the potential of having stem cells develop to - and function as - hair cells. Scientists have discovered the presence of stem cells in the inner ears of mice, chicks, and zebrafish. Stem cells can, under the right conditions, develop into cells that are remarkably similar to hair cells. Although a cure does not yet exist, the results obtained thus far are promising. Researchers at Stanford Medicine, Rutgers University, MIT, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Massachusetts Eye and Ear have all been making progress with research involving stem cells and hearing loss. Besides, scientists at Kyoto University in Japan have conducted research that may help with hearing loss and tinnitus.

Progenitor Cell Activation Research

A biotech company called Frequency Therapeutics is developing an injectable drug called FX-322 to treat sensorineural hearing loss by regenerating hair cells through the activation of cells already present in the cochlea. The working principle is called progenitor cell activation, which is similar to - but not the same as - stem cell research. FX-322 uses progenitor cells to generate inner hair cells and restore hearing ability.

Now that you have read about hearing loss, contact Hearing Paradise for a free hearing consultation. We will test your hearing, go over the results and give you options for better hearing.