Biological therapies in otology.

Hearing loss is present in millions of people worldwide. Current treatment for patients with severe to profound hearing loss consists of cochlear implantation. Providing the cochlear nerve is intact, patients generally benefit greatly from this intervention, frequently achieving significant improvements in speech comprehension. There are, however, some cases where current technology does not provide patients with adequate benefit. Ongoing research in cell transplantation and gene therapy promises to lead to new developments that will improve the function of cochlear implants. Translation of these experimental approaches is presently at an early stage. This review focuses on the application of biological therapies in severe hearing loss and discusses some of the barriers to translating basic scientific research into clinical reality. We emphasize the application of these novel therapies to cochlear implantation.

[Biological therapies in otology. German version]. / Biologische Therapien in der Otologie.

Millions of people worldwide suffer from hearing loss. Current treatment for patients with severe to profound hearing loss consists of cochlear implants. Providing the cochlear nerve is intact, patients generally benefit enormously from this intervention, frequently achieving significant improvements in speech comprehension. There are, however, some cases where current technology does not provide patients with adequate benefit. New therapeutic concepts based on cell transplantation and gene therapy are developing rapidly, at least in the research sector. Compared to the wealth of basic research available in this area, translation of these new experimental approaches into clinical application is presently at a very early stage. The current review focuses on translatable treatment concepts and discusses the barriers that need to be overcome in order to translate basic scientific research into clinical reality. Furthermore, the first examples of clinical application of biological therapies in severe hearing loss are presented, particularly in connection with cochlear implants.

An overview of animal models of tinnitus.

Tinnitus, or the phantom perception of sound, is one of the great unsolved problems of otology. It is present in all patients with hearing loss and, in approximately 5-10% of individuals, it has a significant impact on quality of life. Progress in the treatment of tinnitus has been limited by a lack of animal models that can be used to study the neurophysiology of tinnitus and to examine prospective treatment. In the last ten years, several physiological and behavioural animal models of tinnitus have been developed that have significantly increased our understanding. The next ten years will see the application of these models to drug development and electrical stimulus approaches to curing tinnitus.