Research on the Origins of Hyperacusis and Potential Future Cochlear Imaging

[Scruffiey]

New imaging tool reveals the brain's role in cochlea sensitivity

The brain may play a role in helping the ear regulate its sensitivity to sound and compensate for hearing loss by sending a signal to a structure in the inner ear known as the cochlea, according to a study that was just published in the Journal of Neuroscience.

www.news-medical.net

TL;DR: The brain increasing gain in the cochlea after hearing loss appears to have been proven in mice. Researchers also developed a new imaging tool to observe the cochlea in real time, which they plan to adapt into a device for humans.

 

[HighleyTall]

Interesting. This could explain mild hyperacusis in elderly individuals who don't experience tinnitus. However, in my opinion, hearing loss due to noise trauma is a completely different issue.

 

[Scruffiey]

Interesting. This could explain mild hyperacusis in elderly individuals who don't experience tinnitus. However, in my opinion, hearing loss due to noise trauma is a completely different issue.

Why do you think it's completely different? I assume old age still degrades the auditory nerve and synapses, but noise trauma speeds up the process.

The lack of tinnitus may simply be because the brain adapts to the loss as it happens more gradually or due to genetics.