gene therapy may be a viable treatment for age related hearing loss in future

[neuro]

"In a trial of gene therapy in guinea pigs, researchers
used virally mediated expression of the Atoh 1 gene
to encode an important transcription factor for cochlea
hair cell development. This had not only shown
regrowth of cochlea hair cells but also significant
recovery of function in the test animals with drug
induced hair cell loss.
The transplantation of pleuripotent neural stem
cells into the inner ear where they can differentiate into
cochlear hair cells has been tried with partial success.
This suggests gene therapy may be a viable treatment
for age related hearing loss in future".
source: Evaluation of Hearing loss in the Elderly and its
Management http://www.jiag.org/sept2008/Evaluation.pdf

 

[jillio]

Key word:

"may be". That means it "may not be" as well.

 

[deafdude1]

Key word:

"may be". That means it "may not be" as well.

What do you have against those who wish to hear better? There's 10 ways to improve hearing other than HA/CI and millions of people, especially hearing parents of deaf babies will be very interested in hearing better! There's billions upon billions to be made treating hearing loss!

 

[shel90]

What do you have against those who wish to hear better? There's 10 ways to improve hearing other than HA/CI and millions of people, especially hearing parents of deaf babies will be very interested in hearing better! There's billions upon billions to be made treating hearing loss!

That's because she along with myself see deafness from a cultural model.

 

[kokonut]

These things will happen and not an "if" thing but a matter of when. Whether you accept that idea or not is up to you.

 

[shel90]

These things will happen and not an "if" thing but a matter of when. Whether you accept that idea or not is up to you.

I will cross that bridge when it comes. Right now, I would rather focus on the education of deaf children.

 

[jillio]

What do you have against those who wish to hear better? There's 10 ways to improve hearing other than HA/CI and millions of people, especially hearing parents of deaf babies will be very interested in hearing better! There's billions upon billions to be made treating hearing loss!

I have nothing against those who want to hear better. I have no idea where you got that from.

But the fact still remains that the majority of age related deafness is not genetic in etiology, and therefore, would not be responsive to genetic therapy. This article is making the same mistake in genetic influence on deafness that A.G. Bell made many, many years ago. His theories have been debunked, and there is no doubt that this will too.

I do have a problem with press releases being represented as scientific evidence.

 

[jillio]

That's because she along with myself see deafness from a cultural model.

Exactly. And like you as well, I see the attention and money being devoted to "maybes" a gross waste when the same resources could be dedicated to dealing with what is...improving the education of deaf children. The fact is, not even a majority of deaf children are helped with the most recent technology, and waiting on some possibility 15-20 years in the future while we ignore their needs today is, quite frankly, ignorant.

 

[Frisky Feline]

True. we need to focus on right now, presently, now to keep improving the education of deaf kids while the other things keep hoping to make success in curing whatever hair cell or thingy cell are that take forever.

I don't get any hopes up since i am all settle with myself except, (shel) i borrowed shel's motto " I will cross tthat bridge when i come to it." i am ok with it.

 

[candybrowneyes]

Mod Note: Moved to Proper location.

Also OP, please post Stories and news links in the proper forums. Thank you

 

[Reba]

What does this topic have to do with education of deaf children? I thought it's about hearing loss in the elderly. That's a whole different ball of wax.

As the Baby Boom generation ages, this research could be important to many people.

 

[somedeafdudefromPNW]

Exactly. And like you as well, I see the attention and money being devoted to "maybes" a gross waste when the same resources could be dedicated to dealing with what is...improving the education of deaf children. The fact is, not even a majority of deaf children are helped with the most recent technology, and waiting on some possibility 15-20 years in the future while we ignore their needs today is, quite frankly, ignorant.

Yes... I have keep addressing this over and over!

Too many people focus on the medical and technological side of deafness in the education system, let alone in the real-world.

Great, you want stem cells, new improved hearing aids and or cochlear implants. AWESOME! That is your choice. It doesn't change anything out there in the real world! You are still deaf or hard-of-hearing with even the most mild loss.

Social intervention is the key to a child's success in the real world, not hearing.

 

[dreama]

Yes... I have keep addressing this over and over!

Too many people focus on the medical and technological side of deafness in the education system, let alone in the real-world.

Great, you want stem cells, new improved hearing aids and or cochlear implants. AWESOME! That is your choice. It doesn't change anything out there in the real world! You are still deaf or hard-of-hearing with even the most mild loss.

Social intervention is the key to a child's success in the real world, not hearing.

I totally agree with this. If they spend half as money on teaching and rehabilitation for the deaf and/or blind we would be seeing much more progress then we are now.

The world is a noisy place so there are actually advantages of being Deaf.

Funding is being cut where it is most needed on spent on thrivalous things like stem cell research. If I wanted to pay for a pipe dream I'd play on the lottery.

 

[Reba]

How did this:

"...This suggests gene therapy may be a viable treatment
for age related hearing loss in future".
source: Evaluation of Hearing loss in the Elderly and its
Management...."

become a discussion about educating deaf children?

Isn't this topic about late-deafened adults???

 

[somedeafdudefromPNW]

How did this:

"...This suggests gene therapy may be a viable treatment
for age related hearing loss in future".
source: Evaluation of Hearing loss in the Elderly and its
Management...."

become a discussion about educating deaf children?

Isn't this topic about late-deafened adults???

Look at deafdude1's reply at post #3. If he had chose to leave out "especially hearing parents of deaf babies will be very interested in hearing better," then it would had not gone down this route.

Actually... is there a rehab program for late-deafened? I know there's a rehab program for people that went blind later in life offered by the CNIB? I am curious now.

But yes, this research will be significant to the baby boomers.

 

[Reba]

Look at deafdude1's reply at post #3. If he had chose to leave out "especially hearing parents of deaf babies will be very interested in hearing better," then it would had not gone down this route.

Actually... is there a rehab program for late-deafened? I know there's a rehab program for people that went blind later in life offered by the CNIB? I am curious now.

But yes, this research will be significant to the baby boomers.

Yes, Deafdude1 got things off track.

I don't know about rehab programs for late-deafened adults. Some of them aren't interested in being "rehabbed." I know several late-deafened adults personally who are struggling with their loss of hearing. They are actually hearing people who can't hear--that's not the same as being "Deaf." Realistically, they aren't interested in learning sign language or lipreading or Deaf culture. They just want to hear again.

I'm a strong advocate for improved education for deaf children but late-deafened adults have important needs also.

 

[somedeafdudefromPNW]

Realistically, they aren't interested in learning sign language or lipreading or Deaf culture. They just want to hear again.

I'm a strong advocate for improved education for deaf children but late-deafened adults have important needs also.

I can understand that. At that point in their life, there is very little need for sign language or lip-reading. However it is from observing them that I realized how much life-coping skills that the young ones acquire without anyone teaching them. It seems like that the psychological support for them is completely non-existent here in Canada, so I wasn't sure if the situation is different in the States.

I know here, not every deafblind know tactile signing or ASL (and in many cases, they don't even bother anyway), but the CNIB offers them rehab to learn life-coping skills a late-deafened blind person would not acquire early in life on their own.

 

[jillio]

I can understand that. At that point in their life, there is very little need for sign language or lip-reading. However it is from observing them that I realized how much life-coping skills that the young ones acquire without anyone teaching them. It seems like that the psychological support for them is completely non-existent here in Canada, so I wasn't sure if the situation is different in the States.

I know here, not every deafblind know tactile signing or ASL (and in many cases, they don't even bother anyway), but the CNIB offers them rehab to learn life-coping skills a late-deafened blind person would not acquire early in life on their own.

Natural adaptation is an amazing thing.