Volume 12
From the Labs to the Clinics
There was one pervasive idea that even with sound exposure levels that could damage hair cells, hearing loss may not be noticed immediately if cochlear lesions occur in very high-frequency regions. However, the effects of this damage may become evident much later in life as age-related hearing loss progresses.
From the Labs to the Clinics
If you have no clue about what this title means, then you are not alone. Eager to find the latest research in the field of audiology and to elucidate its practical importance in audiology (that being my mandate for Canadian Audiologist), I searched for a very recent scientific publication. A paper from January (2025) in Frontiers in Audiology and Otology immediately sparked my curiosity, not least because from the title, I had absolutely no idea what it was about. If you read this column with its title the same as the paper, I suspect you have the same feeling.
Volume 11
The Role of AI in Audiology
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is back in the spotlight with the news that Geoffrey Hinton (Professor Emeritus, University of Toronto) was just awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics, for his role as the “grandfather of AI”. It is a well-deserved reward for his ground-breaking academic studies. On this occasion, what could be more appropriate than a commentary on the role of AI in audiology?
Distinguishing Scientific Facts from Fake News in Audiology
In this era of fake news and conspiracy theories, finding the truth is more difficult. Scientific facts are being dismissed as fabricated, and whacko therapies for illness are touted as true cures. These problems with “alternative truths” have always been with us; the snake-oil salesmen of old have made their profits. However, in the past few decades we have seen an epidemic of distrust of science, and also of serious journalism and many cherished institutions (e.g. the US Center for Disease Control). It is probably not appropriate here to launch into how these factors are enabled by ambitious politicians and amplified by social media platforms, so I will stick with the field of Audiology. Yes, we have some fake news issues.
Gene Therapy for Children with Deafness: We Are Almost There, At Least for Single Gene Mutations
This year (2024), at various international audiology and otolaryngology conferences (e.g., AAA; ARO), we have heard about preliminary findings on the restoration of hearing in children after gene therapy. This follows from at least a decade of research studies in animal models of deafness due to single gene mutations where the correct gene insertion has been shown to be (a) possible, (b) safe, and (c) with some limited degree of efficacy. There are numerous up-to-date reviews of such studies.
Who Measures Otoacoustic Emissions?
About six years ago, in my column in Canadian Audiologist, I celebrated the 40th anniversary of the discovery of otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) by David Kemp. wrote about how sound coming out of the ears was initially regarded as paradoxical, and with some scepticism in the scientific and audiology community!
Volume 10
How Close Are We To Cochlear Hair Cell Regeneration In Humans?
Many decades ago, there was much excitement in the audiology community about the possibility of hearing restoration by somehow promoting cochlear hair cell regeneration. I thought it was time for our “labs to clinic” column to issue an update.
Close-Up Clinical Imaging of the Inner Ear. Coming To Audiology Soon?
Whilst many technical aspects of synchrotron imaging of the inner ear have been explored, we are not at the point of having a clinical imaging tool. However, if this does become a reality, it could provide a very useful diagnostic tool in audiology.
Audiology of the Future with Whole Human Genome Sequencing: Part 2
Bob writes a follow-up from his previous column to further discuss applications of whole genome sequencing (WGS) in audiology. Part 1 was shared with audiology colleagues and trainees and their feedback is the basis for this article.
Audiology of the Future with Next Generation, Whole Human Genome Sequencing
In my next few columns, I will explore new and exciting studies on using whole human genome sequencing as an emerging clinical tool for audiology.