A research team in New Zealand says an injection of the chemical agent ADAC into the inner ear can correct noise-induced hearing loss. This breakthrough could lead to a new treatment for millions of people who have lost hearing due to loud music or the prolonged noises many people are exposed to at work, the researchers say.
Srdjan Vlajkovic and his team of investigators treated the damaged ears of rats with injections of adenosine amine congener and found it significantly restored hearing without the need for surgery or hearing aids. They're now looking for investors to finance the next step of research.
"To our knowledge, this study presents the most effective pharmacological strategy to date for reducing noise-induced hearing loss after exposure to damaging noise," says Vlajkovic. "We now hope to test its effectiveness in humans and are currently seeking industry partners to move this to clinical trials."
- here's the story from the Daily Mail
- and here's the report from TVNZ