A scientist at the University of Sheffield believes that stem cell transplants for some deaf people could be attempted within the next three to five years, perhaps allowing them to hear again. Professor Matthew Holley says that transplants of embryonic stem cells in experiments on mice have showed some restoration of auditory function.
Professor Holley used cells taken from the ears of 10-day old mouse embryos and now plans to take human embryonic ear cells, mature them and inject the new 'hearing cells' into the ears of deaf people in the same way as he did with mice.
The cell transplants would initially be used in conjunction with surgically inserted electronic cochlear implants, currently the only treatment available to the profoundly deaf, known to restore a basic level of hearing by stimulating the auditory nerves. The implants do not work for the long-term deaf because their nerves have usually degenerated too far. It is thought that stem cells might help to repair the nerve and improve the contact between a cochlear implant and the brain.
Professor Holley says that developing this treatment 'opens up the prospect of making implants more effective and using them on a much wider scale'. But he recognises that not all deaf people will be able to benefit from the treatment, for example those who do not have any auditory nerves to restore.
Sources and References
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Embryos raise hope of cure for deafness
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Implants of nerve cells could help deaf to hear again
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