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Study Highlights Noninvasive Hearing Aid

The AHA! Team — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 05:14:54 +0000

Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist via EurekAlert! – New type of hearing aid using an array of micro-epidermal actuators can significantly improve the hearing experience for patients with conductive hearing loss A study from researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine highlights a new approach in addressing conductive hearing loss. A team of scientists, led by Mohammad J. Moghimi, Ph.D., assistant professor of biomedical engineering, designed a new type of hearing aid that not only improves hearing but also offers a safe, non-invasive alternative to implantable devices and corrective surgeries. The study recently published in Communications Engineering, a Nature Portfolio journal. Conductive hearing loss, which most commonly happens in childhood, occurs when sounds do not reach the inner ear. Sound waves are blocked in the outer or middle ear due to ear infections, blockages or structural abnormalities. “Treatment for conductive hearing loss can include corrective surgeries and implantable hearing aids, which can be very invasive, especially for pediatric patients,” Moghimi said. “Flexible hearing aids offer a noninvasive alternative.” To produce vibrations strong enough to reach the cochlea, the part of the inner ear responsible for hearing, the research team designed a flexible hearing aid. The device uses micro-epidermal actuators to create vibrations on the skin behind the ear, which then travel directly to the inner ear, bypassing the ear canal. For the study, 10 participants between the ages of 19 and 39 wore earplugs and earmuffs to simulate conductive hearing loss. Researchers then tested arrays of the actuators to enhance the vibration strength, improve the quality of sounds and control the direction of the vibrations. “We found that using an array of these actuators, rather than a single one, significantly enhances the strength and quality of the vibrations, leading to better hearing outcomes,” Moghimi said. Moghimi also noted that improving hearing in children can reduce delays in language and speech development and boost educational development. “This technology has the potential to improve the quality of life for children with hearing impairments and transform the way we approach pediatric hearing aids,” Moghimi said. The research team will next focus on a larger study to further evaluate the efficacy and safety of the device in children and adults. Journal Communications Engineering DOI 10.1038/s44172-025-00369-7 To read the original article click here.

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What Parents Should Know About Newborn Hearing Screenings

The AHA! Team — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 05:09:29 +0000

Children’s Hospital Los Angeles via Newswise – Early detection of hearing loss in children is imperative. Learn what the result of your kid’s hearing test means—and what you need to do about it next. In the United States, approximately 3 out of every 1,000 infants are born with hearing loss. Surprisingly, over 90% of these children are born to parents who themselves have normal hearing. As mandated by state regulations, newborn hearing screenings are performed in all hospitals where babies are delivered. These screenings are essential for early detection, which Kristina Rousso, AuD, an audiologist with the California Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (CA-LEND) training program at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, says is crucial for achieving optimal outcomes in a child’s development. Babies’ brains “From birth, babies’ brains are constantly taking in information to support development of listening, language, and reading,” Dr. Rousso says. Dr. Rousso says that she and her colleagues follow the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing Guidelines 1:3:6 model—identification through screening by 1 month of age; diagnosis of hearing level and type with a pediatric audiologist by 3 months of age; and treatment with hearing devices by 6 months of age. What can cause hearing loss at birth? Below are some of the reasons that a baby may be born with hearing loss: Genetic factors Maternal viruses during pregnancy, such as cytomegalovirus (CMV) and rubella Extended stays in neonatal intensive care, due to risk factors such as low birth weight, lack of oxygen, and phototherapy treatment Two types of newborn hearing screenings There are two primary types of newborn hearing screenings: otoacoustic emissions (OAE) and auditory brainstem response (ABR). “Both are painless, fast, and easy to measure,” Dr. Rousso says. Otoacoustic emissions involves playing different sounds into the baby’s ear to detect a response from the inner ear Auditory brainstem response measures the brain’s response to sounds and volume levels through electrodes placed on the baby’s head during sleep. Hearing screenings provide a “pass” or “refer” result. Here is what each means. Pass: A “pass” indicates your baby likely has normal to near-normal hearing. “However,” Dr. Rousso says, “it’s still important to monitor speech and language development and the baby’s responses to different sounds in the environment.” If your baby does not respond to sounds appropriately at home, or their speech and language development is not advancing, schedule a hearing test appointment with a pediatric audiologist, who can evaluate and treat your child for possible hearing loss. Refer: A ”refer” result means that more information is needed to determine if the baby has hearing loss in one or both ears. A second hearing test will be administered before you and your baby are discharged. If the baby does not pass the second time, you will be referred to a pediatric audiologist for a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation. Dr. Rousso emphasizes the importance of promptly taking your baby to a pediatric audiologist for a complete evaluation if the baby does not pass the hearing screen, or if the baby is not developing speech or language. The sooner hearing loss is diagnosed and treated, the faster a baby’s brain can start to develop speech and language. To read the original article click here.

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New Active Substance Shows Promise in Treating Acute Sudden Hearing Loss

The AHA! Team — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 19:33:18 +0000

Medical University of Vienna via News-Medical – A research team led by MedUni Vienna has investigated AC102, a new active substance that offers hope of an effective treatment for acute sudden hearing loss. The latest results have been published in the scientific journal “Cell Death & Disease”. Initial findings from preclinical trials could represent a significant advancement in the treatment of acute hearing disorders. The effectiveness of AC102 was demonstrated in a study led by Christoph Arnoldner (Department of Otorhinolaryngology at MedUni Vienna) and Hans Rommelspacher (Audio Cure Pharma GmbH, Berlin) using animal models with cochlear implants. Cochlear implantation is currently the only treatment option for advanced hearing loss in order to partially restore the hearing ability. The preservation of residual hearing is of crucial importance, as the remaining “natural” hearing in combination with the electrical stimulation of the implant improves speech comprehension and general hearing perception. However, the surgical procedure can damage the inner ear and lead to the loss of residual hearing. Until now, there has been no effective method to prevent or treat this loss. “In our study, we have now been able to show that the residual hearing of animals that were administered AC102 once increasingly recovered in contrast to untreated animals,” reports first author Michael Nieratschker (Department of Otorhinolaryngology at MedUni Vienna). With the help of cell cultures and inner ear models, the study also found an explanation for this effect: AC102 has an anti-inflammatory effect and thus protects the hair cells and auditory nerves from dying. Treatment of sudden hearing loss in sight The results of the study allow the conclusion that AC102 could also be effective in acute sudden hearing loss. “Sudden hearing loss is usually treated with cortisone, but recent studies show that this approach often does not work.” -Christoph Arnoldner, Head of the CD Laboratory for Inner Ear Research at MedUni Vienna “Since inflammatory processes and cell damage also play a role in acute sudden hearing loss, as in the case of residual hearing loss in cochlear implantation, the use of AC102 was also investigated in this context,” explains Michael Nieratschker. The efficacy of the substance has already been demonstrated in a preclinical study (https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2314763121) involving MedUni Vienna. A Phase I study to confirm the safe use of AC102 at MedUni Vienna and Radboud University in Nijmegen (Netherlands) has also already been successfully completed. The Phase II study to confirm efficacy in patients is being conducted at several European centers, including MedUni Vienna’s Department of Otorhinolaryngology. “All the results so far give us reason to hope that AC102 could be suitable for the treatment of acute sudden hearing loss,” say Christoph Arnoldner and Michael Nieratschker optimistically. Source: Medical University of Vienna Journal reference: Nieratschker, M., et al. (2024). A preoperative dose of the pyridoindole AC102 improves the recovery of residual hearing in a gerbil animal model of cochlear implantation. Cell Death and Disease. doi.org/10.1038/s41419-024-06854-9. To read the original article click here.

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Translating Basic Hearing Loss Research into Practical Therapies for Those in Need

AHA Publisher — Fri, 12 Mar 2021 08:00:39 +0000

Creighton University via Newswise – OMAHA, Neb (March 5, 2021) – A research center at Creighton University, dedicated to preserving or restoring hearing loss, has been awarded the largest National Institutes of Health grant in the University’s history. Creighton’s Translational Hearing Center, which was established in 2019, has been awarded $10.8 million payable over five years and competitively renewable up to 15 years, by the NIH-affiliated Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE). The award will fund a working partnership between the Translational Hearing Center, Boys Town National Research Center and the University of Nebraska Medical Center as the three institutions seek to translate basic hearing loss research into practical therapies. Led by Peter Steyger, PhD, professor of biomedical sciences at Creighton and director of the Translational Hearing Center, and Jian Zuo, PhD, chair of the Department of Biomedical Sciences at Creighton, the partnership will build a corps of academic researchers dedicated to battling hearing loss resulting from numerous causes. Researchers will tackle hearing loss in children whose hearing is compromised by antibiotics or other medical treatments, to persons suffering hearing loss in the wake of cancer therapies, those who suffer deafness due to such infections as meningitis, through to natural hearing loss caused by aging. Bo Dunlay, MD, dean of the Creighton University College of Medicine, said the grant will boost the Center’s already high reputation. “The Creighton University Translational Hearing Center is internationally recognized for groundbreaking research that has a simple goal: to improve the lives of countless individuals who are facing hearing loss,” he said. “The COBRE is an important step on this journey.” In its grant application, the Transitional Hearing Center said it will work to improve hearing loss by speeding the transition of research to clinical trials and from there to practical therapies. “Hearing loss in infants and children results in delayed acquisition of listening and spoken language skills critical for academic achievement and impairs career trajectories of affected individuals,” said Peter Steyger, PhD, the application’s principal investigator. “In the aging population, hearing loss without appropriate rehabilitation accelerates aging and cognitive decline.” “This award solidifies our leading position in the nation on drug development for hearing loss.” said Jian Zuo, who is also director of the Drug Discovery Core of the COBRE grant. From this platform, we will launch additional programs to continue excellence in our translational research on hearing loss.” The COBRE grant will enable creation of a unique research environment within the Transitional Hearing Center consisting of junior investigators conducting basic research. An “administrative core” of experienced professionals will coordinate projects with an external advisory committee, all with the goal of developing new therapies and methods of assessing their effectiveness. Researchers will examine peripheral hearing loss as well as compromised relationships between the inner ear and the brain in an effort to identify pharmacotherapeutic strategies. Future plans call for expansion into investigational new drug applications, safety and efficacy studies and clinical trials in patient populations served by Creighton University’s academic medical center, Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) Health Systems, and with Boys Town National Research Center and the University of Nebraska Medical Center. The success of this COBRE grant application is the result of extensive collaboration among many individuals who dedicated significant amount of time and effort in multiple departments and across multiple schools at Creighton University. These included the School of Medicine, the School of Pharmacy and Health Professions and the School of Dentistry. In addition, the Creighton School of Medicine made a significant commitment to ensure the success of the Center. The Creighton University Translational Hearing Center was created in 2019 on the foundation of a grant from the Bellucci DePaoli Family Foundation, which honors the memory of Richard Bellucci, MD’42. After graduating from Creighton and returning to his native New York City, Bellucci made some of the 20th century’s most important contributions in the fields of otology and otolaryngology. The center is directed by Steyger, a native of Manchester, England, who as a 14-month-old boy lost his hearing to meningitis and has since dedicated his career to preventing a similar fate from befalling other children. To read the original article click here.

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