Is A Cure for Hearing Loss Possible?

By Shanna Groves

When Hearing Health Foundation approached Lipreading Mom about doing a story about curing hearing loss, I admit I was skeptical. Is a cure really possible? And if it is, would it benefit those who have embraced their deafness? I have many friends who haven’t been able to hear all their lives, and they lead very full lives. So why the need to change that?

Lipreading Mom recently conducted an email interview with Shari Eberts, Chairman of the Hearing Health Foundation’s (HHF) Board of Directors, about HHF’s research into hearing loss.

When did research into a hearing loss ‘cure’ first get support from the Hearing Health Foundation?

HHF’s founder, Collette Ramsey Baker, was steadfast in her support of funding for new technologies and treatments for hearing loss, despite objections and doubts from supporters and those in the industry. Because of that commitment, HHF has been a leader in driving new innovations and treatments for people with hearing loss for more than fifty years. This includes funding research that led to the development of cochlear implants and many of today’s standard treatments for otosclerosis (abnormal bone growth in the ear) and ear infections. Today, HHF continues to support groundbreaking research in hearing, through the search for a biological cure for hearing loss and tinnitus through its Hearing Restoration Project (HRP).

HRP officially launched in 2011 and is currently funding five projects from its consortium scientists, but the initial discovery that led to the HRP came many years before. Many types of hearing loss result from damage to the delicate hair cells of the inner ear. Humans can’t regrow these cells—but in a game-changing breakthrough in 1987, HHF-funded scientists discovered that birds can.

While studying how drugs that are known to cause hearing damage affect the tiny sensory cells in the ear, these scientists needed to permanently damage a chicken’s hair cells. For 10 days, research assistants administered a common antibiotic, known to cause hearing loss, to laboratory chickens. On day 11 many of the hair cells were lost and a few days later, even more were lost. Surprisingly, when the scientists looked three weeks later, almost all the hair cells had returned. They didn’t believe these results so they did the experiment again and again. Sure enough, chickens can naturally regenerate their inner ear hair cells, restoring their hearing after damage.

Our HRP Consortium is the dream team of hair cell regeneration, comprising the best auditory scientists at leading institutions worldwide such as Harvard and Stanford. With more than 200 years of combined experience in hearing research, the HRP Consortium publishes widely (over 400 published papers among them) and have well established labs (receiving over 600 NIH grants combined). We have every confidence we have the right team in place, and the right model to accelerate the timeline to a cure.

For years, scientific research has been conducted in relative isolation—one researcher or one institution working alone to tackle a major health issue. HHF developed the HRP Consortium model to do things differently. Our HRP scientists work on research projects together, share their unpublished data and tools, and collaborate on the development and refinement of the HRP’s strategic research plan. The group meets bi-annually in person, monthly by conference call, and communicates frequently by email. This continual dialogue is helping to eliminate repetitive work across the team, saving time and research dollars, and most importantly, accelerating the timetable to a cure.

Even though we are in the early stages of the research, we think it is very important that the public learn about our efforts. We want them to know that there is hope for a cure, and that there are researchers who consider curing hearing loss and tinnitus to be their life’s most important work. We hope our marketing efforts will help bring attention to the issue, raise awareness of the prospects for a cure and inspire other scientists and laypeople to join us in our support of this important research, so that we can find the cure as soon as possible.

But what about people with different forms of hearing loss: How can these research findings affect people born with hearing loss? People with late-in-life hearing loss?

There are two broad forms of hearing loss:

Conductive Hearing Loss is caused by any condition that blocks or impedes the conveyance of sound through the outer or middle ear. The result is a reduction in the sound intensity that reaches the cochlea. Common causes include ear infections, a perforation in the eardrum, or even buildup of earwax. Generally, conductive hearing loss can be treated with a complete or partial improvement in hearing.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss commonly occurs due to an injury or degenerative change in the inner ear and is currently permanent.

Damage to the hair cells in the inner ear is the most common type of sensorineural hearing loss. The Hearing Restoration Project is focused on the cure for sensorineural hearing loss, through the regeneration of these damaged inner ear hair cells, and with it the regeneration of hearing. Most types of age-related hearing loss and noise-induced hearing loss are caused by damage to these hair cells, making the HRP research applicable to most types of acquired hearing loss.

The amazing thing is that regeneration happens naturally and very robustly in almost all animals – mammals are the exception. This makes HHF and the researchers confident that we will find a way to stimulate this regeneration in mammals, including humans. While ten years may seem like a long time, and it is for someone like myself who lives with hearing loss every day, it is realistically within my lifetime, and that gives me hope and excites me for the future. While we wait for the cure, we encourage people with hearing loss to seek treatment for the condition through hearing aids or other means, so that they can enjoy the highest quality of life possible, while they wait.

What about tinnitus: How can these findings help the millions of people worldwide with ringing in their ears?

With 90% of tinnitus (ringing in the ears) occurring with an underlying hearing loss, a cure for hearing loss is also likely to be a cure for tinnitus. In a recent article in Hearing Health magazine, HHF’s free quarterly publication on all things related to hearing loss, this topic was discussed in detail. Some of the high points are detailed below:

There is certainly evidence that the restoration of hearing can alleviate tinnitus. For example, tinnitus can be induced by exposure to loud sounds that result in the temporary loss of hearing, which is experienced by many after attending a loud event like a rock concert. In most such cases, the tinnitus disappears as the hearing recovers.

Another example is the response of patients for whom otosclerosis (an abnormal bone growth in the middle ear) has induced a conductive hearing loss. Many such patients with this hereditary condition experience tinnitus. However, when their hearing is restored through a surgical procedure, many report an improvement in tinnitus.

Finally, there have been several reports that patients, after receiving a cochlear implant, experience a significant reduction in their tinnitus. Interestingly, in some cases this tinnitus suppression continues for several hours after the implant is turned off. Though the mechanism by which cochlear implants may suppress tinnitus is not clear, these observations all suggest that restoring function to the auditory system may be very helpful for tinnitus in a variety of ways.

There may be skepticism about ‘curing’ hearing loss. How would you respond to criticism toward curing hearing loss or deafness? For example, the Deaf community has a strong cultural identity shaped by living with deafness. Some would argue that a person’s deafness is what makes him/her unique, so why change it?

Hearing Health Foundation respects everyone’s individual choices and beliefs as relates to their hearing loss. For those interested in a biological cure, we are proud to be working on one.

This article was republished with permission.

HHF Included in Media Planet Vision and Hearing News

By Tara Guastella

For the second year, HHF is excited to be included in Media Planet’s Vision and Hearing News campaign. This annual initiative aims to raise awareness about vision and hearing loss, discuss new technologies, and provide expert commentary on the latest from the field. The campaign is included as an insert in USA Today and shared digitally, reaching millions of viewers worldwide.

This issue’s cover story features Seattle Seahawks fullback Derrick Coleman in an interview about his experience with hearing loss and the methods he took to succeed in his career. The interview is inspirational and it’s great to see Coleman as a role model for people with hearing loss.

Our exciting work to cure hearing loss and tinnitus is included within the issue in an article titled “The Promise for a Cure”. While technologies like hearing aids and cochlear implants bring great benefit to people with hearing loss, the article highlights how the work of our Hearing Restoration Project (HRP) aims to deliver a genuine, biologic cure for hearing loss and tinnitus within the next decade. By studying chickens, fish, and other animals who have the ability to naturally regenerate their inner ear hair cells and reverse hearing loss, our team of HRP researchers aims to translate the ability to restore hearing to people. Our PSA is also featured at the bottom of the article.

"Our organization has been at the forefront of hearing research for over half a century. Now we’re funding a genuine, biologic cure for hearing loss and tinnitus within the next decade. I can’t emphasize enough the importance of continued research in the hearing field,” says Shari Eberts, the chairman of HHF’s board of directors, in the article.

HHF Medical Director David Haynes, M.D., FACS, answers common questions about cochlear implants (CIs) and the types of hearing loss that may be eligible for CIs. “While standard hearing aids amplify sound, the cochlear implant has the capacity to break down sound and deliver this signal to specific areas of the cochlea, improving understanding,” Haynes says.

Lastly, we contributed an article about preventing hearing loss and the best ways to keep your, and your loved ones, hearing safe and sound. You can watch our interactive “How Hearing Works” video and also learn about walk, block, and turn. Our three-step method to prevent hearing damage advises walking away from loud sounds, blocking them with earplugs or earmuffs, and turning down the volume when it is under your control.

Check out the full Media Planet campaign for other hearing and vision resources.

HHF Earns a Gold!

By Tara Guastella

HHF recently received the GuideStar Exchange Gold participation level, a leading symbol of transparency and accountability provided by GuideStar USA, Inc., the premier source of nonprofit information.  This level demonstrates HHF’s deep commitment to nonprofit transparency and accountability.

We have worked hard to showcase our progress toward our mission of curing hearing loss and tinnitus, and our long-held belief in being transparent about our work, to our constituents.

As a GuideStar Exchange participant, we will use their platform to share a wealth of up-to-date information about our work to our supporters and GuideStar's immense online audience of nonprofits, grantmakers, individual donors, and the media.

In order to be awarded the GuideStar Exchange logo, we completed a comprehensive nonprofit report in order to obtain the Gold level of participation.

We encourage you to check out our profile on GuideStar to see what we're all about. We are engaged in exciting initiatives, and we are thrilled to have another platform for communicating our advancement and progress toward a cure.

About the GuideStar Exchange

The GuideStar Exchange is an initiative designed to connect nonprofits with current and potential supporters. With millions of people coming to GuideStar to learn more about nonprofit organizations, the GuideStar Exchange allows nonprofits to share a wealth of up-to-date information with GuideStar's many audiences. Becoming a GuideStar Exchange participant is free of charge. To join, organizations need to update their report pages, completing all required fields for participation. The GuideStar Exchange level logos, acknowledged as symbols of transparency in the nonprofit sector, are displayed on all Exchange participants' nonprofit reports.

The Hearing Restoration Project a Top 5 Nominee in the 5th Annual CLASSY Awards!

By Tara Guastella

The CLASSY Awards, in partnership with the United Nations Foundation, are the largest social impact awards ceremony in the U.S., for the fifth year recognizing champions of social progress.  I am thrilled to report that our Hearing Restoration Project (HRP) has been nominated for a CLASSY award and has been chosen as a Top 5 nominee in the Health Services: Non-Communicable Diseases category!  

CLASSY Award nominees must complete a thorough application process that includes detailed information about the social problem the program is addressing and how the program is making strides for monumental change. Delivering a cure for hearing loss and tinnitus has been and continues to be a top priority at HHF. Now the HRP is being recognized for the contribution we will make to bettering the lives of nearly 50 million Americans with hearing loss and tinnitus through this research.

AOL compares the CLASSYs to the Oscars and we couldn’t be happier to have the HRP receive this type of recognition in the national philanthropy arena. We are so honored to have the HRP highlighted alongside other incredibly inspiring organizations driving social change not only in health services but in all social service categories.

The CLASSY Awards weekend will be held in San Diego, where the award finalists will be announced. The weekend in early May also brings together leaders from across the social sector in a setting that drives collaboration around solving social problems. Team members from HHF will be in attendance at the awards weekend, and we look forward to sharing news about the outcome of the awards race.

Introducing the Council of Medical Trustees

By Yishane Lee

David S. Haynes, M.D., of Vanderbilt University, has been HHF’s medical director for the past couple of years, advising HHF on medical issues and serving on the Board of Directors and Council of Scientific Trustees. Dr. Haynes recently created HHF’s Council of Medical Trustees (CMT) as an expert panel of more than a dozen otologic and neurotologic physicians and surgeons that HHF can turn to for input regarding medically related issues, and provide comprehensive and up-to-date information about various hearing and balance diseases and conditions. The CMT builds on the long legacy of HHF’s Centurions, a group of medical doctors that had held a similar role.

In the Winter 2014 issue of Hearing Health, we are pleased to highlight the first of many articles about hearing and balance conditions in the magazine by members of the CMT. Dr. Haynes described Ménière’s disease, its definition, diagnosis, symptoms, treatment, outlook, and current research areas.

Two centuries after it was first named, Ménière’s has been a challenge to accurately diagnose, since its symptoms of vertigo, hearing loss, and/or tinnitus can be seen in many other conditions. As Dr. Haynes writes, “Having an experienced doctor who understands the conditions that can present with similar symptoms is essential. Because of the challenges in accurately diagnosing Ménière’s, the diagnosis can sometimes occur by process of elimination.” Another challenge has been determining the cause, although treatments to manage the condition have met with varying degrees of success as well as become less invasive.

The article is in print as well as online.

Two 2013 HHF Emerging Research Grant scientists are also investigating Ménière’s disease.

Peihan Orestes, Ph.D., of the University of California, Los Angeles, is testing the effect of gentamicin use on the contralateral (least affected) ear to stabilize vestibular function in patients with Ménière’s disease, and whether the contralateral ear can be retrained to help normalize vestibular function.

Ian Swinburne, Ph.D., of Harvard Medical School, is studying how the endolymphatic duct and sac stabilize the inner ear’s fluid environment in an effort to identify ways to restore or elevate this function to mitigate or cure Ménière’s disease.

Please have a look at our online dictionary of hearing terms and let us know in the comments below if you have specific areas you’d like us to address.

Do Chickens Hold the Key to a Cure for Hearing Loss?

Chickens have the amazing ability to restore their own hearing, and this trait is inspiring a nonprofit organization in their search for a cure for hearing loss in humans.

The Hearing Health Foundation’s “Chirp the News” video features the group’s new mascot: a baby chick. Locked within the ears of this chick is the potential to restore hearing and cure tinnitus, or ringing in the ears. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, about 36 million adults in the U.S. have some form of hearing loss, and 25 million are affected by tinnitus.

“As someone who lives with hearing loss every day, I am personally thrilled with the prospects for a cure,” said Shari Eberts, chairman of the Hearing Health Foundation’s Board of Directors, in an email to Healthline. “Life with hearing loss can be frustrating. Sometimes you miss the joke when everyone else is laughing, and sometimes you miss important information because you don't hear it. Supportive family and friends can make living with hearing loss easier, but a genuine cure would be life changing.” 

The Chicken’s Magic Ears

The secret to the chicken’s auditory magic is that supporting cells in its inner ear can replace hair cells that have been damaged by loud noises or other causes.

And chickens aren’t the only animals that can restore their own damaged hearing. All vertebrates other than mammals can do the same. And preliminary research has shown that mice can regain some of their hearing using supporting cells that turn into hair cells—in the lab, at least. 

Researchers supported by the Hearing Health Foundation hope to find a way to coax the supporting cells in the inner ears of people to transform into functional hair cells. Their goal is to have a cure within a decade.

The 10-Year Road to a Cure

For people with hearing loss, waiting a decade for a cure can seem like a lifetime. But in the world of research, this is a very short time to travel from initial scientific discoveries all the way to successful clinical trials in humans.

To speed the research along, the Hearing Health Foundation is supporting a collaboration known as the Hearing Restoration Project (HRP) that involves researchers from more than ten institutions, including Harvard Medical School.

To find a successful cure for hearing loss, researchers have plenty o work ahead of them—including identifying how supporting cells in the chicken's ear turn into hair cells, as well as finding potential compounds or drugs that can make this happen in people.

Eberts is optimistic that the project will hit its mark, and so is Ed Rubel, a professor of hearing science at the University of Washington and a member of the project team.

“With sufficient funding,” he says, “the consortium can discover effective pathways and hopefully some lead compounds to promote hair cell regeneration in the mammalian inner ear in the 10-year time frame.”

Many Eggs in Many Baskets

In his lab at the University of Washington, Rubel is working on one piece of the puzzle that may one day lead to hair cell regeneration in people. 

“The project on my own has to do with developing a new mouse model to test the pathways and, eventually, the drugs that come out of the HRP,” he said.

The mice developed in his laboratory will be shared among members of the consortium, so they can avoid having to develop their own mice. This kind of sharing is an important aspect of the collaboration, something that Eberts expects will save time and money.

For Rubel, working with the HRP has other benefits.

“The wonderful thing about the consortium,” he says, “is that it includes only people who really want to play in that kind of sandbox—that want to share information, share early-stage information, share the other things that they’re doing in their laboratories, and work together.”

As a person with hearing loss, Eberts supports the push to highlight the project's potential.

“Even though we are in the early stages of the research, we think it is very important that the public learn about our efforts,” she said. “We want them to know that there is hope for a cure and that there are researchers who consider curing hearing loss and tinnitus to be their life’s most important work.”

This article was repurposed with permission from Healthline.

Westone Audio Products to Donate a Portion of Every Sale to HHF

By Tara Guastella

We are excited to share that Westone, the leader in high performance audio, in-ear monitoring technology, and hearing protection, has announced its support of HHF and HHF's work to cure hearing loss and tinnitus.

Westone will be donating a portion of every sale of all Westone Audio products to HHF through 2014.

"We are extremely excited to partner with Hearing Health Foundation and help support its efforts in hearing research, hearing protection, and a search for a cure to hearing loss," says John F. Lowrey, the vice president of the Colorado-based company’s audio division.

"We are committing significant resources to the Hearing Health Foundation with an initial gift and continuous commitment to donating a portion of each sale of all our audio products to their research,” Lowrey adds. “Westone Audio is committed to delivering the best audio and protection available to customers and we want to support HHF's efforts to find a cure for those who have already experienced hearing loss."

"Noise-induced hearing loss is 100 preventable preventable,” says Andrea Boidman, HHF’s executive director. “Westone is known for being a leader in the hearing care and preservation field and we're excited to work together to achieve the same goal—providing hearing loss solutions. We are so grateful for the support we have already received from Westone and its ongoing efforts for our cause."

If you are looking for a new pair of earphones, headphones, or ear protection, consider Westone Audio Products and you’ll also be showing your support for a cure for hearing loss and tinnitus.

Read more in Westone’s announcement about its support of HHF.

Look for Our Fall Issue, Out in October

By Yishane Lee

We are busy wrapping up the Fall issue of Hearing Health magazine, which will be available in October in print and online. Be sure to subscribe for your free copy, and check back here for links to the digital edition.

One of my favorite stories in the Fall issue is “8 Signs You May Need a New Hearing Aid.” I am completely guilty of using technology way past its usefulness (my radio is circa 1970, and the fellow at the bicycle shop wouldn’t let me leave on my bike using a helmet from the ’90s), but you shouldn’t make this mistake when it comes to your hearing health.

Staff writer and audiologist Barbara Jenkins, Au.D., writes that the average lifespan of a hearing aid is five to seven years. While older hearing aids may work fine, if they need repair, with every year it will become harder to find the right parts.

What’s more, holding onto your hearing aids because of economic reasons may not make financial sense, and may even be doing you a disservice. As Jenkins writes:

“Like other technology, hearing aid technology is rapidly advancing while also becoming less expensive. You can purchase a lower-priced hearing aid today with a wider frequency response and better fidelity than even a premium-level hearing aid bought just a year ago."

Look for Jenkins’s informative article in the Fall issue of Hearing Health outlining the reasons—some you may not have thought of—to consider a new hearing aid. You just may recognize yourself or your situation.

HHF Exhibits at 92 St Y StreetFest

By Tara Guastella

HHF staff members Veronica Moreno and Ayana Anderson

On September 15, HHF sponsored and exhibited at the 92 St Y StreetFest on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. HHF staff members and volunteers from the Royal Arch Masons, a HHF major donor, had the opportunity to speak with thousands of New Yorkers and discuss how a chicken can lead us to a cure for hearing loss and tinnitus.

Chickens (and most non-mammals) can regenerate their own hair cells and as a result restore their own hearing. We explained how our Hearing Restoration Project is working to translate this process to humans in order to develop a biologic cure for hearing loss and tinnitus.

Attendees were also provided the opportunity to enter a contest to win a $50 Target gift card by guessing the number of fuzzy chicken toys in a glass jar. The winner of the contest hit the nail on the head by guessing 750 chickens! Our booth also featured an abundance of Peeps (chick-shaped, marshmallow candy), chick temporary tattoos, and a plethora of information about HHF’s work toward a cure for hearing loss and tinnitus.

Volunteers from the Royal Arch Masons with HHF staff member Tara Guastella

HHF was honored to be a part of this event to spread the word about our work. We are also extremely grateful for the support of the Royal Arch Masons for their generous help at this event and their continued support of HHF’s Emerging Research Grant Awardees studying central auditory processing disorder (CAPD).

Hearing Health Foundation Announces Inaugural Junior Board Holiday Event

Hearing Health Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to finding a cure for hearing loss through innovative research, is proud to announce their inaugural Junior Board Holiday Event. Tomorrow, Tuesday, December 4th from 6:30-8:30 PM at Ashtons Alley in New York City, members of the Junior Board will host an event inspiring young professionals to rally around a cure for hearing loss. The collection of unique and passionate individuals serves as ambassadors and advocates for Hearing Health Foundation.

"As we swing into the holiday season, and enjoy the company, conversation, and the sounds of the holidays, lets not forget that nearly 1 in 5 Americans suffer from some form of hearing loss,” said Bejamin Melting, President of Hearing Health Foundation Junior Board. “This impairment isn't limited to the aged, but effects the young and old alike. As we celebrate over the next few weeks with family and friends; think what it would be like if you weren't able to hear the conversations around you, or the sounds of the holidays? If like me, you want to find a cure for this devastating ailment, come join us on December 4! If you can't make it, you can always donate!”

Since 1958, Hearing Health Foundation has given over $27.8 million to hearing and balance research. In 2011, Hearing Health Foundation launched the Hearing Restoration Project (HRP), a consortium of scientists working on cell regeneration in the ear. HRP's goal is a biologic cure for most types of acquired hearing loss. Hearing Health Foundation also publishes Hearing Health magazine, a free consumer resource on hearing loss and related technology, research, and products.

"We are thrilled to have the support of such a committed and passionate Junior Board," said Andrea Boidman, Executive Director of Hearing Health Foundation. "We know this event will be the first of many and look forward to seeing this group develop into a key awareness and fundraising team for our next generation."

The event on December 4th will feature a $45 entry fee ($35 if purchased in advance) that will include free beer from Blue Moon and wine from Justin Vineyards & Winery as well as 2 for 1 well drinks, light hors d’oeuvres, an on-site caricature artist and a silent auction featuring concert tickets, beauty packages, signed sporting memorabilia and more.

Hearing Health Foundation Junior Board members include: Benjamin Melting, Anthony Bartoli, Kristie D’Agnes, Jason Frank, Jenny Frank, Andrew Hebert, Michael Kolodny, Jessica Luterman Naeve, Dominic Pisano, Felicia Rovegno, Nicole Simels-Kolodny, Katherine Simpson, Paris St. Clair and Nathan Walcker.