You are in the WebMD Content Archive for WebMD Video.
WebMD archives all video content after 48 months to ensure our readers can easily find the most timely content.
To locate the most current information on this topic, please use our search box
Reviewed By: Brunilda Nazario,
SOURCES: 2009 WebMD Medical Reference from Medstar Television. Jose Fayad, MD, Otologist/Surgeon, House Ear Institute, Los Angeles. Neil Segil, PhD, Cell Biologist, House Ear Institute, Los Angeles.
© 1999-2011 Medstar Television
There are a number of reasons for hearing loss. The most common is damage to the so-called hair cells in the inner ear - the ones that sense sound and send it to the brain.
In certain populations, for example, in people losing their hair cells because they are exposing themselves to too much noise.
Aging and certain medications can also kill them. Unfortunately, humans only have so many hair cells and can't grow new ones like some species.
In birds, for instance, when a hair cell is lost, the surrounding, supporting cells begin to divide, increase in number and then go on, some small number of them, to differentiate, to turn into a new hair cell.
That's piqued (PEAKED) the interest of researchers at the House Ear Institute. So they're studying how animals regenerate hair cells to see if they can teach human hair cells to do the same.
A few years ago, I would have not even been willing to guess whether there, it was going to be possible. I do now think that it will be possible.
Some research will focus on stem cells to see how they can be turned into hair cells. Doctor Segil (SEE-gull) and his colleagues are studying genetics.
So we can test theories about which genes might be involved in allowing or blocking regeneration to occur.
According to the National Institutes of Health, gene therapy has been successful in improving hearing in deaf animals. Time will tell if it will work in humans. For WebMD, I'm Sandee LaMotte.
Back Pain Test
Exercise for Better Sex
Vinegar for Diabetes
Drink Your Way To Weight Loss
Pre-Diabetes
Gallbladder Basics
Weight Loss Secret Weapon
IBS Trigger Foods
Does Porn Hurt a Relationship?
Male Orgasms: How They Change
Cholesterol-Busting Exercise
What's Your Sleep Personality?
Herpes Vaccine Study
Truth about Passing Gas
Are You Using a Condom Correctly?
Snoring Cure
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Diarrhea Causes and Treatments
Acupuncture for Back Pain
Common Constipation Treatments
Dirty Truth About Hand Washing
4-D Ultrasound
ED Exercise
Sex Advice for Single Women
Cholesterol Guidelines
Diagnosing Yeast Infections
Truth About Coffee
Healing Heel Pain
Snacks for Diabetics
Best Butt Exercises
To perform a video search, please enter a term in the search box located to the right of the video player above.
Not Available.
©2005-2012 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See additional information.
