Open AccessIs there an unmet medical need for improved hearing restoration?
Author(s) -
Wolf Bettina Julia,
Kusch Kathrin,
Hunniford Victoria,
Vona Barbara,
Kühler Robert,
Keppeler Daniel,
Strenzke Nicola,
Moser Tobias
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
embo molecular medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.923
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1757-4684
pISSN - 1757-4676
DOI - 10.15252/emmm.202215798
Subject(s) - medicine , audiology , sensorineural hearing loss , hearing loss , health care , rehabilitation , hearing aid , physical therapy , economics , economic growth
Hearing impairment, the most prevalent sensory deficit, affects more than 466 million people worldwide (WHO). We presently lack causative treatment for the most common form, sensorineural hearing impairment; hearing aids and cochlear implants (CI) remain the only means of hearing restoration. We engaged with CI users to learn about their expectations and their willingness to collaborate with health care professionals on establishing novel therapies. We summarize upcoming CI innovations, gene therapies, and regenerative approaches and evaluate the chances for clinical translation of these novel strategies. We conclude that there remains an unmet medical need for improving hearing restoration and that we are likely to witness the clinical translation of gene therapy and major CI innovations within this decade.