Noise-induced hearing loss prevented by novel gut treatment
Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) can occur from a one-off exposure to an intense burst of sound, like a gunshot or explosion, or continuous exposure to loud sounds over an extended period, such as in a noisy work environment. With society's increasing industrialization and urbanization, NIHL has become a prevalent problem that affects people of all ages.
Current treatments include hearing aids and cochlear implants, but their effectiveness depends on the number and functionality of surviving sound-detecting hair cells in the inner ear. They can’t reverse the damage done. However, a group of Chinese researchers has developed a novel treatment that combines the principles of traditional medicine and our modern understanding of the gut microbiome to prevent and repair hearing loss.
In healthy ears, sound waves travel to the inner ear and into the snail-shaped cochlea. Hair cells in the cochlea pick up the sound waves and start moving up and down, causing microscopic projections on top of the cells to bump against an overlying structure and bend. Bending causes channels to open, causing chemicals to rush into the cells and creating electrical signals that travel along the auditory nerve to the brain, where they’re registered as sound.
