Q10. Will deafness ever be cured?

A10. This is one of the aims of stem cell research which is based upon using stem cells, taken from a human embryo, to replace faulty or damaged cells.

The idea behind this is that stem cells have the capacity to self-replicate and transform themselves into any type of cell. The theory is that these could be taken from inside the brain as they are very similar to hair cells within the cochlea. These stem cells would be introduced into the cochlea whereby they would divide and convert into new hair cells which would detect sounds and restore lost hearing. This is still at an experimental stage so it is too early to say if this could ‘cure’ deafness but it does hold out hope of doing so some time in the future.

FAQS Index : A guide to Hearing Loss

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FAQs Intro

1. What causes deafness?
2. Why has my hearing gone worse as I have got older?
3. Is there more than one type of hearing loss?
4. Why does my child get lots of ear infections?
5. What is ‘glue ear?’

6. Can listening to an MP3 player affect your hearing?
7. I need a hearing test, what can I expect?
8. What is a cochlear implant?
9. What type of hearing aid will suit me?
10. Will deafness ever be cured?

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