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Toward Personalized Diagnosis and Therapy for Hearing Loss: Insights From Cochlear Implants.

Toward Personalized Diagnosis and Therapy for Hearing Loss: Insights From Cochlear Implants. Otology & neurotology : official publication of the American Otological Society, American Neurotology Society [and] European Academy of Otology and Neurotology Sagi, V., Stankovic, K. M. 2022; 43 (8): e903-e909

Abstract

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is the most common sensory deficit, disabling nearly half a billion people worldwide. The cochlear implant (CI) has transformed the treatment of patients with SNHL, having restored hearing to more than 800,000 people. The success of CIs has inspired multidisciplinary efforts to address the unmet need for personalized, cellular-level diagnosis, and treatment of patients with SNHL. Current limitations include an inability to safely and accurately image at high resolution and biopsy the inner ear, precluding the use of key structural and molecular information during diagnostic and treatment decisions. Furthermore, there remains a lack of pharmacological therapies for hearing loss, which can partially be attributed to challenges associated with new drug development. We highlight advances in diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for SNHL that will help accelerate the push toward precision medicine. In addition, we discuss technological improvements for the CI that will further enhance its functionality for future patients. This report highlights work that was originally presented by Dr. Stankovic as part of the Dr. John Niparko Memorial Lecture during the 2021 American Cochlear Implant Alliance annual meeting.

View details for DOI 10.1097/MAO.0000000000003624

View details for PubMedID 35970169