Promising News in the Prevention of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

The best way to prevent noise-induced hearing loss is simple: avoid excessive noise [I'm looking at you, iPod User].

Unfortunately for some, that isn't possible.  Certain occupations require people to be in noise to do their jobs -- soldiers, construction workers, pilots, etc. -- and while the use of hearing protection does a good job, it isn't perfect, nor is it always possible to use it 100% of the time.

In a press release, researchers at the Washington University in St. Louis announced they may have found a pharmacological form of protection:

Research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggests a medicinal form of hearing protection may someday be a possibility. A group headed by Jianxin Bao, Ph.D., research associate professor of otolaryngology and head of the Central Institute for the Deaf's Presbycusis and Aging Laboratory, has found that two anti-epileptic drugs can prevent permanent hearing loss to a significant degree in mice exposed to loud noises.

As with any study, there are details to be considered.  Firstly, the medication reduced the hearing loss by 5 decibels, however, the mice still exhibited hearing loss.  Make no mistake, 5 dB is significant, but it's not as if the drugs will give you ears of steel.  Secondly, the proper dosages and side effects must be determined for humans.

Very promising for sure, but still several years away from being available for the general public.

The methodolgy and results of the study will be published in Hearing Research.