The Future of Everything The future of hearing loss
Mar 28, 2025
Tina Stankovic, an ear, nose, and throat specialist at Stanford, blends her passion for music with groundbreaking research in hearing loss. She discusses the challenges posed by genetic mutations and the role of AI in improving diagnostic accuracy. Recent advancements in regenerative medicine and cochlear implant technology offer hope for treatment. Stankovic also highlights the emotional impacts of hearing loss and shares practical tips for prevention, emphasizing the importance of advocacy in the journey toward better hearing health.
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Hearing Loss Prevalence and Treatment Gap
- Hearing loss is a widespread disability affecting 1.5 billion people globally, yet no cures exist.
- Current treatments are limited to hearing aids and cochlear implants, lacking biological therapies or FDA-approved drugs for restoration.
Types and Diagnosis Challenges of Hearing Loss
- Hearing loss is categorized into conductive (issues with sound reaching the inner ear) and sensorineural (originating in the inner ear).
- Diagnosing sensorineural hearing loss is challenging due to limitations in inner ear imaging and biopsy procedures.
Tinnitus and its Relation to Hearing Loss
- Tinnitus, a phantom sound often linked to hearing loss, is primarily caused by inner ear injury.
- Cochlear implants can alleviate tinnitus in many patients, demonstrating the brain's recalibration capacity upon peripheral restoration.