Despite Research Progress, Hearing Aids Still Best Bet

Q:  I recently read an article about treating hearing loss with stem cells. Will we soon have an alternative to hearing aids for those with hearing problems?

A:  Age-related hearing loss is caused by a degeneration of the cells and nerve connections in the inner ear. Stem cells have the potential to develop into any specialized cell of the body, so they hold great promise for treating diseases and disorders caused by improperly working cells, including age-related hearing loss.

Currently, we have a limited understanding of how stem cells may help humans. Scientists must first learn how stem cells turn into specialized cells, then must discover how to transplant the specialized stem cell in a living human organ so the new cells grow and work with the other human cells.

Recently, researchers tested the ability of rat stem cells to survive in rat inner ears. Indeed, they found that some stem cells did survive and that some adopted the shape and position of functioning inner ear cells. This research gives hope that, in the future, stem cells may be useful in the treatment of some types of hearing loss. At present, however, hearing aids remain the foremost therapy for age-related hearing loss.

Julie Mitchell, MD, is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin. She practices at the at Froedtert & Medical College East Clinics (General Internal Medicine). Her medical advice column also appears in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

"Dear Doctor" is a compilation of patient questions answered by doctors from the Medical College of Wisconsin.