LLLT Appears to Promote the Growth of Damaged Cochlear Hairs in Rats

J Biomed Opt. 2012 Jun;17(6):068002.
Effect of low-level laser treatment on cochlea hair-cell recovery after acute acoustic trauma.

Rhee CK, Bahk CW, Kim SH, Ahn JC, Jung JY, Chung PS, Suh MW.
Source

Dankook University, Medical Laser Research Center, Cheonan, Republic of Korea.
Abstract

We investigated the effect of low-level laser radiation on rescuing hair cells of the cochlea after acute acoustic trauma and hearing loss. Nine rats were exposed to noise. Starting the following day, the left ears (NL ears) of the rats were irradiated at an energy output of 100 to 165 mW/cm(2) for 60 min for 12 days in a row. The right ears (N ears) were considered as the control group. Frequency-specific hearing levels were measured before the noise exposure and also after the 1st, 3rd to 5th, 8th to 10th and 12th irradiations. After the 12th treatment, hair cells were observed using a scanning electron microscope. Compared to initial hearing levels at all frequencies, thresholds increased markedly after noise exposure. After the 12th irradiation, hearing threshold was significantly lower for the NL ears compared to the N ears. When observed using an electron microscope, the number of hair cells in the middle turn of the NL ears was significantly larger than that of the N ears. Our findings suggest that low-level laser irradiation promotes recovery of hearing thresholds after acute acoustic trauma.
PMID:
22734788
[PubMed - in process]
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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22734788

 

molan

thanks for the link

would be interesting to know if the procedure must occur right after trauma to be effective or if treatment months after injury was still effective as well

 

That's a very good question Mock Turtle, I wonder about that as well.