Inner Ear Hair Cell Regeneration — Maybe We Can Know More

yes, it will take time, but first products for protecting or acute treatment of tinnitus and hearing loss might be on the market in 5 years, at least some researchers estimated this time span.
Regenerative approach will surely take longer. But if there is something out which could help hear us better or at least let us feel better it would be a lot. Maybe there is some hearing loss resulting from something different than hair cell loss. Maybe it's the myelin sheet (a kind of coat) which is damaged. Myelin is also researched for regeneration of some neuro degenerative processes, so maybe there is an off-label treatment available...
Maybe it's impossible, maybe very complicated , but if they find out some more, the solution could also be much esier.

I hope there will be another regenerative approach entering clinical trial soon.

 

Ola, there is some move...

Otologic licences regeneration technology

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-rele...y-from-the-hough-ear-institute-300150403.html

 

Hmmmmm, that actually does seem like pretty big news. They expect clinical trials in late 2017 with this regeneration of inner ear hair cells? I'm generally not an optimist but with all this AM-101, Aut63 and now inner ear hair regeneration it makes me think a cure has to be around the proverbial corner (2020-2025) if a cure is to be found at all. Just seems like a lot of movement in what is an untapped $7 billion market. If I was going to be an annoying optimist I'd predict a cure for T by 2025. Fingers crossed.

 

To be honest, I don't think regeneration of hearing necessarily means tinnitus will be abolished. I find it hard to believe it would undo all the plastic changes that happened since the induction of T.

 

If residual inhibition brings you relief then restoration of hearing shoud stop T

 

Wow, this is amazing news. I just wanted to highlight a few things that I found most promising while reading through the article. I will focus on the non-regenerative information, as this information is more practical in terms of applicability at the current time (I'm not a professional in the field, so take my personal comments with a grain of salt):

To me, this shows that that research done on NAC with the department of defense is being taken seriously. I have personally been taking Magnesium tablets on a semi-regular basis, but I am seriously considering switching to some type of NAC. We need to make sure we protect our ears in the best way possible, and although I do not know much about this, the medication (amino acid) is used to treat a number of conditions. I found NAC can be purchased on Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/Nac-N-Acetyl-Cysteine-600-Caps/dp/B00068GKC8

I found that the Otologic Pharmaceuticals website has a great, relatively understandable description of the science located here: http://otologicpharmaceutics.com/the-science/

One striking quote from this source:

Note the primary take away: High doses of the individual drugs were required to elicit these efficacious outcomes. But, high doses of the individual drugs did something.

The mention of reversing brain injury is most striking, and although this line of their research is focused on the acute treatment, I do wonder how this drug may help for sub-acute and chronic suffers. There is no clear indication that it even could, but we all know just how brain related T / H / TTTS are at this point (Aut, Trobalt, Keppra).

So to me, I see no reason why we cannot start employing the results of this research in our lives. NAC is widely used, but unfortunately the partner drug seems somewhat obscure: HPN-07 (aparently this was previously called NXY-059). Information on HPN-07 / NXY-059 can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disufenton_sodium

Whether this helps in chronic cases or not, I developed my hearing loss (+T,H,TTTS) from blast trauma just 3 months ago, and after seeing 6 doctors and even explicitly asking for steroids at day 4, I was told "steroids won't work for you" and I actually believed the doctor without doing further research... So, I was not given the steroids until 1.5 months after the accident when a new doctor informed me that the first was incorrect and should not have persuaded me against them, consequently they did not work and I lost my chance at AM-101.

The point is, had I known about the possibility of stocking up on NAC I would have tried this as well. I think we can support all new members by pointing out this research and letting them decide if this is something they'd like to try or not.

 

Maybe u are right, but in long term (hypothetical if hair cell regeneration works 100%) brain should restore, and reset function back to normal, after some time, after months, year, two or more. But at the end is seems to have logic that it should abolish t in long term.
Just theorize, that all we can do...

 

It will create new connections for sure. But will it reset the tinnitus brain state back to what it was before? I don't think so.

 

This sounds interesting....
Our laboratory has recently identified a new mechanism by which adult and aged mammalian inner ear cells can be induced to proliferate and regenerate hair cells. We have developed a wide-range of techniques for our work including explant culture of adult mouse cochlea, CRSIPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing in the inner ear, protein and viral-mediated gene delivery into the inner ear and isolation of inner ear cell subtypes for RNA-seq. The position presents a unique and exciting opportunity for the candidate interested in using molecular, cellular, and animal models to study inner ear cell regeneration and be part of the effort of the laboratory in achieving functional recovery of hearing in the near future. The laboratory is part of Eaton Peabody Laboratory at the MEEI, which provides an interdisciplinary and collaborative environment in all aspects of hearing research. The laboratory is also affiliated with the Harvard Stem Cell Institute.

http://neurojobs.sfn.org/jobs/7517347/postdoctoral-fellowship-in-inner-ear-regeneration

 

I just noticed that Audion Therapeutics receieved 8,3mil. euro. Thats a lot of money i think. Hope they will progress faster.
http://www.audiontherapeutics.com/2...ce-the-development-of-hearing-loss-treatment/

 

I would think it should. Many forms of tinnitus related to hearing damage are a result of an expectation of input where there is none. You would think that reintroducing those inputs would eventually bring the perception of noise back to a normal state.

It's extremely rare you hear about someone with amazing healthy ears (hearing up to 20-22 KHz) having auditory processing issues.

 

Maybe. But I am concerned that there is no way the newly formed connections will be the same or perform the same as the original ones and that it may not stop the tinnitus.

 

It is enough to create real signal, it is impossible that newly formed connection send false and real signal to the brain. It seems like a basic logic.

 

I doubt it's possible to ever go back to "perfect" no-noise-in-silence perception. Even with incredible treatments we're probably going to have at least some minor sound at least in silence the rest of our lives (except in the case of spontaneous resolution). But that's a hell of a lot better than nothing.

If it gets to that point, I'm basically at where I was before I had what I currently consider my "tinnitus". I've had a very low hum for a long time, probably as a result of damage before, that was actually extremely calming, and still do. It's just the pure tone on top of it, the 15 KHz one, that is the one that flusters me

 

The unlikely relationship between zebrafish and human hearing

http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/...d-play-a-role-in-reversing-deafness-in-humans

 

Hi,
this are interesting news: unfortunately just available in german language.
There are findings from german labs:
http://www.goettinger-tageblatt.de/...hnen-Weg-zur-Gentherapie-der-Schwerhoerigkeit

 

I just hit translate and it worked. Great news, tomytl.

 

Man, you always feed us with hope!
this is Fantastic News!.....I believe one of these days the path (for our relief) will be found!
Lets cross fingers!

All the best Tom!

 

Hi,
here is a video from Hough Ear Institute promoting their unique way of hair cell regeneration.

Hough Ear Institute: Curing Deafness Worldwide

 

Any idea what the science behind this is?

 

A really hopeful video. The parts that are most interesting are:

1) They managed to decrease the protein that stops hair cell regeneration. That means that hair cells regeneration in humans is possible, and obtainable since they found a way to do just that! Quite a statement that is.

2) Tinnitus is simply considered to be a side-effect of hearing loss. Meaning when hearing is restored, tinnitus will go away. Which is only logical especially for those who got their tinnitus by acoustic trauma of some sort.

I always thought that tinnitus cure has to do with the ears, not the brain. It is where it started from, and it is perhaps the only way to restore our silence, by this greatly promising hearing restoration technique.

What remains is for all the community to take this seriously and stop considering other drugs that fail to function or target irrelevant parts of the human organism. And of course the goal should be to really aim at restoring hearing to normal and not supporting other gadgets such as hearing aids.

It is the only way! And it seems to be within our grasp.

 

Even more to that, restoring hearing function is of much higher importance (imho) tinnitus or not. This is where money should be going. Curing tinnitus this way should be a seen as a bonus.

 

Dont believe Hough Institute till they show some proof. Seems more like money grab. They are asking for donations everywhere.

 

This appears to be a wonderful idea / the great target.....and it could work (i believe it will be possible one day)....if Man kind with permit it (no lobbys at all...)
There are at the moment many other researches pointing this path!
Lets Hope!

 

I would not say that we shouldn't believe them. It's a non-profit organisation doing research for a very long time.
As it is for every research facility, their grants are mainly cutted and they need financial support.
In the otherhand I know what you mean with money grab, yes it is for sure... but why not.
And at least, if it really works will show clinical trials on human, so we can hope they will bring it there.

 

They are not the only one who walk this path. Hair cell regeneration is the way many researchers and organizations follow. Many scientists say it is a matter of when it will happen, not if. It is logical to ask for money if government support is cut down, it is also logical for us to be skeptical. We 've seen other companies taking funds for tinnitus and after failing in their drug turning to other conditions totally irrelevant. But their way of curing was doubtful to begin with, probably not soundly based.
Let's hope hair cell regeneration is exactly what we need! Curing hearing loss, the very first condition that leeds to tinnitus is the way. I know, it is a big deal curing deafness, but they wouldn't dare talk about it if they hadn't got proof it works...

 

@skoupidis mvc treated only by surgery.

 

After visiting/consulting with many doctors about this, -two of them being world specialists-, I reached a dead end considering mvc. It still troubles me, but the fact is that there was the case of acoustic trauma involved. It could be both. Currently only one of them may be treated but it is extremely difficult to pinpoint the actual source of the problem hence nobody dare touch my case. There is little I can do. Forcing a doctor to operate an mvd on me is not my favorited move. I still believe tinnitus is a mixed problem though, perhaps both vascular in origin and hearing loss being the responsible uncovering factor. All this is speculation, it is all I can do.

There is however something interesting in my case: Mvc does not get better in time, actually it gets wors. I am a bit better 1 year after the onset. And I am not talking habituation. Sound distortion and hyperacusis are better. This is inconsistent with mvc, isn't it?

 

2) Tinnitus is simply considered to be a side-effect of hearing loss. Meaning when hearing is restored, tinnitus will go away. Which is only logical especially for those who got their tinnitus by acoustic trauma of some sort.

I have known this for years. Wearing hearing aides all my life kept my tinnitus away until now. By amplifying the frequencies that were reduced I never had any problems with T. For me it was stress and anxeity that gave me prolonged tinnitus. On normal days without stress or anxiety though when I put my hearing aides on and go to work T will go away or go from a 7 to a 1 or 2. So yes getting those frequencies back or amplifying them in your ear will make T go away or at least reduce it greatly. I had it all my life, but didnt notice it until last year, and once you learn you have it, its hard not to notice, but I do have days where I can make it go away completely when I talk to people for extended periods of time and just forget about it. Eventually I go looking for it again and I find it. If I went looking for it and didnt find it though, I'm pretty sure I stop looking would forget I ever had it and just go on with my normal life.

This is really hopeful news though and agreed instead of finding medicines that manipulate the brain, we need to treat this at the source which is the ear. Fix the ear and you fix T. I have always seen these medicines they are working on to fix T as a band-aid for the real issue.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/b...s-it-s-possible-to-make-drugs-to-slow-or.html

More funding pouring into hearing loss companies.

http://www.soundpharmaceuticals.com/technology.html
Found this one too.