hearing

Hearing loss is usually irreversible because there's no way to grow back the necessary outer and inner ear sensory cells once they've been killed off. But we may have started on the path to change, thanks to new research in mice.  Scientists have discovered a single master gene that's able to regulate whether ear hair cells into the outer or inner types required to restore hearing. That's a significant step forward in being able to actually carry this out in the lab.The master gene is called TBX2. Through experiments on…

Christian Smalls, founder of the Amazon Labor Union (ALU), speaks during a Senate Budget Committee hearing in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, May 5, 2022. The hearing is titled "Should Taxpayer Dollars Go to Companies that Violate Labor Laws?"Eric Lee | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesChris Smalls, a former Amazon worker and leader of an upstart labor union, challenged lawmakers on the tech behemoth's labor record at a Senate hearing on Thursday.Senate Budget Committee Chair Bernie Sanders called the hearing as part of his…

Whether you’re the person dealing with hearing loss, or if you know somehow who has lost their hearing, it can be a frustrating part of aging. Loss of hearing can also lead to tinnitus, a feeling of isolation, and has even been closely connected to dementia. That’s why research into ways to reverse hearing loss has been so intriguing for many. And now, scientists with an MIT spinout may have found a solution. MIT scientists found a way to reverse hearing loss Hearing loss can affect older individuals, as…

Scientists studying the mechanisms behind deafness have pinpointed a single gene they describe as a type of master switch for cell differentiation, opening up exciting new possibilities around restoration of hearing. The discovery is claimed to "overcome a major hurdle" in the field, and lays the basis for therapies that tackle a common cause of irreversible hearing loss.The study focuses on ear hair cells, which are sensory cells that line the inner ear and are fundamental to our sense of hearing. The death of these…