Stem cells. Hair cells. Implantation, regrowth, rejuvenation. Cure for deafness. These are all words that have been bandied about with increasing frequency. Most recently, there was the American Association for the Advancement of Science Conference. Attendees discussed new techniques to provide hearing through regular biological methods, as mentioned in a recent Wired article -- with the dramatic title of "Tech Could End Deafness."

You may be wondering what all the fuss is about, and whether it's worth delaying any procedures to improve your hearing. The bottom line: Don't hold your breath. These advances are still in the early stages. Some of the ones in the news are actually more suitable for specific kinds of hearing loss.

A distinction needs to be made, for example, between age-related hearing loss and nerve/hair cell damage. Richard Schmiedt's group, the one Wired focused on, has found that age-related hearing loss is due to a loss of voltage (endocochlear potential) and not hair cell loss.

Schmiedt, an otolaryngology professor at the Medical University of South Carolina, and his team have done some "very experimental and proof of concept" work that shows it may be possible to "jump start" this voltage with implanted electrodes. This means the user would still be able to hear using hair cells rather than a cochlear implant.

"I suspect it will be at least ten years before hearing can be restored in humans using these methods," Schmiedt says.

Different technological advances are on the horizon for people who are already deaf, whether due to genetics or damaged hair cells. The work of Josef Miller -- who's working on regrowing auditory nerves -- and Yehoash Raphael -- also working on repair and regeneration -- are promising for the future, but "hearing aids and cochlear implants are the best opportunities now," says Peter Steyger, associate professor of otolaryngology at Oregon Health and Science University.

This view was echoed by speakers, including Raphael, during the question and answer session at the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing research symposium on "Improved Rehabilitation of Hearing Loss and Deafness."

"Stem cell rehabilitation in humans may be a decade or two away, but perhaps feasible within five years in animals (i.e., pre-clinical trials)," says Steyger. "That is because stem cell therapy will have to meet FDA requirements, which can take 10-15 years for even pharmaceuticals, never mind living cells."

While the media may choose hype and drama when describing these promising advances, we need to be realistic.

"This biotechnology will have to compete with the increasing sophistication and capability of CIs that are improving at ever increasing rates," Steyger says. "Therefore, if you have a hearing loss, use today's technology now, as you'll be waiting a long time for the next quantum leap in auditory rehabilitation strategies."

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