Because of Meniere's, I have no functioning hair cells in my left ear. I listing monaurally with only my right ear. New research, however, is pointing to a future ability to restore hair cells in humans. This technology is not ready for implementation yet, but the animal experiments are encouraging. Info here: http://newatlas.com/hearing-loss-hair-cell-regeneration/48036/ --John of Ohio
The potential market for hearing restoration, unlike the market for curing Meniere's, is so enormous that it would seem almost inevitable that a breakthrough will be achieved if it is physically possible. Who wouldn't pay thousands of dollars to have their hearing restored? The huge profit potential of this will drive research. My belief that there will be breakthrough in hearing restoration within my lifetime is one of my main reasons for not wanting destructive therapies for my Meniere's.
Sorry to be Debbie Downer but will never work for us or be useful until a cure is found for mm. The very nature of our disease is that it destroys hair cells. We pay thousands to refried them only to have mm continually destroy them? We need a cure for mm first.... Then regrow the cells do they can be destroyed again.
This is why antivirals are so important for those of us who have a viral cause of our symptoms. It prevents further hearing loss and keeps the damage at bay, something that surgery cannot do. Also, I see no way to regrow hair cells after a laby, which removes the cochlea.
scott tom..... you are giving people a false hope with this hair cell growth regeneration. It is years if not decades away. Clinical trials have not even, it is in its Orphan stages in medical terms, meaning it is basically a dream at this point in time. hope is not a treatment option.....use the tools available now to give yourself the best possible quality of life you can have NOW. Deaf people are not waiting around for hair cell regeneration and regrowth, they are opting for Cochlear Implants and yes you can get a cochlear implant into a laby ear if you want. Plenty of people on this forum have had Cochlear Implants put into a laby ear and are doing great.
NPR Science Friday had a story ont this today. Not "years away." Not a "false hope." Listen to it here: http://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/can-this-treatment-combat-hearing-loss/ Human hair cell trials in just 18 months. A real technology, close to human applications. --John of Ohio
NPR Science Friday had a story on this today. Not "years away." Not a "false hope." Listen to it here: http://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/can-this-treatment-combat-hearing-loss/ Human hair cell trials in just 18 months. A real technology, close to human applications. --John of Ohio
I'm not giving anyone false hope, so stop trolling me all the time. I only said that the benefits of antivirals include stopping hearing loss in those that respond to it. I said nothing about the timeline for this particular hair thing.
It sure sounds great. But if I had to lean toward a reality check here its with Bulldogs. Genvec (almost bankrupt dang that stock) >Norvartis (investing boatloads of millions with no tangible results) etc. Big pharma is all over it. But not enough success to even list it on their boards of pipeline possibilities even in the earliest of stages. I have had the honor to communicate with a number of lab directors around the world directly involved in the research. Talking to the authors of many of the publications etc. The consensus is the same. It works in birds. Its real. But its a long way to market with humans. They dont have the formula or the delivery system yet. Sounds easy but its horribly complicated. Delivery to the site is a common theme and problem. We just can't make it happen right now nor are we even close. When I directly ask them ref my situation. (laby one side...deaf the other) should I wait?...will I see it in my lifetime?....answer is always use the tools on the shelf as of now. Its not false hope. Maybe someday. But listen to Bulldogs. If you can't hear get a CI.