Abstract
Age-related hearing loss is the most common cause of adult auditory dysfunction. It is characterized by bilateral, progressive auditory deterioration associated with the aging process. There currently are limited options for the treatment as hearing aids or cochlear implants. To establish novel strategies for the treatment of this entity, it is crucial to elucidate the mechanisms of age-related hearing loss. Its etiology is believed to be multifactorial including both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Oxidative damage, as seen in other aging organs systems, may play an essential role in the pathogenesis of the age-related hearing loss. Studies on animal models and human temporal bones have indicated a close relationship between degeneration of the cochlear lateral wall and hearing loss. Additional therapies that may prove beneficial in the treatment of age-related hearing loss include stem cell therapy, which we intend to review in this manuscript.
Highlights
Most multicellular organisms exhibit physiological and behavioral decline with aging
Additional therapies that may prove beneficial in the treatment of age-related hearing loss include stem cell therapy, which we intend to review in this manuscript
Age-related hearing loss is a common condition with possible significant public health implications
Summary
Most multicellular organisms exhibit physiological and behavioral decline with aging. Presbycusis is characterized by gradual, progressive, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) with associated impairment of word recognition. Hearing is an essential part of human communication and auditory dysfunction can seriously affect the quality of life in the aging population. Presbycusis refers to the gradual loss of hearing with various types of auditory system dysfunctions that accompany aging. The first type, sensory presbycusis, is characterized by slow, progressive, bilateral steep down-sloping high frequency SNHL which is attributed to loss of hair cells, in the basal turn. The third type, metabolic presbycusis, is associated with hearing loss characterized by with a flat pure-tone audiometric threshold which is attributed to atrophy of the stria vascularis. Mechanical or cochlear conductive presbycusis is characterized by a gradually decreasing linear distribution pattern of threshold shift and presumed to be associate with stiffening of the basilar membrane, no pathological correlate has been identified [11]. The importance of spiral ligament and stria vascularis in the lateral wall has been emphasized
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