Kildars
08-27-07, 01:22 AM
I have a hearing loss in my right ear that has prevented me from joining the Marine Corps. When I first found out that I couldn't join the Marine Corps because of this I deeply began looking into ways to reverse my hearing loss which was caused by medicine given to me when I was 18 months to reverse my meningitus and save my life. Since that day, almost three years ago now, there have been serious medical breakthroughs. Not only for the people allowed into the military and preventing hearing loss, but to treating and curing people that already have sustained significant if not complete hearing loss. So, I figured I would inform everyone on this site to the breakthroughs. I know there are others that read this website that have hearing losses and are either trying to join or have already served and sustain hearing loss during wartimes. I know this is a bit of change of topic versus what we usually talk about on this website, but I figured it was relevant. If you want, I will periodically make posts about current breakthroughs and significant updates. Just let me know.
On April 6, 2007 there was a successful completion of a trial of a preventative/treatment of noise induced hearing loss that used the Marine Corps Recruiting Depot in San Diego to test. It is being marketed at the "hearing pill."
Compound has been shown to counter noise-induced hearing loss. (http://%5Burl%5Dhttp://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/biotech/20070406-9999-1b6tech.html%5B/url%5D)
Here is an excerpt:
And with further research, scientists are hoping that the compound, commonly used to treat Tylenol overdose, may win regulatory approval for restoration of hearing loss.
The compound, N-acetylcysteine, or NAC, is being marketed as an over-the-counter product known as the “hearing pill” by American BioHealth Group in San Diego.
.....
That late-2003 trial involved 566 Marines at the recruit depot in San Diego. Half the recruits were given a dose of NAC before and after going to the firing range with their M-16s, and half received a placebo. All of the recruits wore ear guards for protection.
Permanent hearing loss was reduced by 25 percent to 27 percent in the NAC group compared with the placebo group. Further findings from this study will be presented later this month at a national otolaryngology conference in San Diego.
This would be amazing and it will soon be a reality. Some sites say this is both a treatment (meaning reversal of noise-induced hearing loss) and that it is also a preventative pill; but some say that it is just a preventative, but keep reading.
If you have already sustained hearing loss from noise or other infections there have been serious breakthroughs in restoring hearing for
Sensoneural Hearing loss (http://%5Burl%5Dhttp://www.asha.org/public/hearing/disorders/types.htm%5B/url%5D) which is what I have.
On June 14th, 2007 scientists sucessfully transplanted and restore ear cells into a human ear. This is an important step. Genes in Human Inner Ear cells restored (http://%5Burl%5Dhttp://www.dentalplans.com/articles/19862/%5B/url%5D)
Researchers at the University of Virginia Health System have discovered a way to transfer genes, which they hope will restore hearing, into diseased tissue of the human inner ear. This important step brings scientists closer to curing genetic or acquired hearing loss.
They engineered a correct form of the gene and created a gene therapy delivery system that successfully transferred the KCNQ4 gene into human hair cells harvested from the inner ears of patients with hearing loss.
"Our results show that gene therapy reagents are effective in human inner ear tissue. Taken together with the results from another group of scientists who showed that similar gene therapy compounds can produce new hair cells and restore hearing function in guinea pigs suggest that the future of gene therapy in the human inner ear is sound," Holt said.
I have known about these two things for a couple weeks and I have contacted doctor Holt at the University of Virginia Health System and he said the wait should be over soon for me. 1-3 years, I'm hoping. When I get my hearing back I will try to enlist again and then I will go buy the "hearing pill" so I don't lose it again.
If you have any questions about hearing loss restoration please feel free to ask, or just post comments in this thread. I have heavily researched and donated time and money to this cause because it personally affects me and my future.
Hope this was interesting to you all;
Jordon.
On April 6, 2007 there was a successful completion of a trial of a preventative/treatment of noise induced hearing loss that used the Marine Corps Recruiting Depot in San Diego to test. It is being marketed at the "hearing pill."
Compound has been shown to counter noise-induced hearing loss. (http://%5Burl%5Dhttp://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/biotech/20070406-9999-1b6tech.html%5B/url%5D)
Here is an excerpt:
And with further research, scientists are hoping that the compound, commonly used to treat Tylenol overdose, may win regulatory approval for restoration of hearing loss.
The compound, N-acetylcysteine, or NAC, is being marketed as an over-the-counter product known as the “hearing pill” by American BioHealth Group in San Diego.
.....
That late-2003 trial involved 566 Marines at the recruit depot in San Diego. Half the recruits were given a dose of NAC before and after going to the firing range with their M-16s, and half received a placebo. All of the recruits wore ear guards for protection.
Permanent hearing loss was reduced by 25 percent to 27 percent in the NAC group compared with the placebo group. Further findings from this study will be presented later this month at a national otolaryngology conference in San Diego.
This would be amazing and it will soon be a reality. Some sites say this is both a treatment (meaning reversal of noise-induced hearing loss) and that it is also a preventative pill; but some say that it is just a preventative, but keep reading.
If you have already sustained hearing loss from noise or other infections there have been serious breakthroughs in restoring hearing for
Sensoneural Hearing loss (http://%5Burl%5Dhttp://www.asha.org/public/hearing/disorders/types.htm%5B/url%5D) which is what I have.
On June 14th, 2007 scientists sucessfully transplanted and restore ear cells into a human ear. This is an important step. Genes in Human Inner Ear cells restored (http://%5Burl%5Dhttp://www.dentalplans.com/articles/19862/%5B/url%5D)
Researchers at the University of Virginia Health System have discovered a way to transfer genes, which they hope will restore hearing, into diseased tissue of the human inner ear. This important step brings scientists closer to curing genetic or acquired hearing loss.
They engineered a correct form of the gene and created a gene therapy delivery system that successfully transferred the KCNQ4 gene into human hair cells harvested from the inner ears of patients with hearing loss.
"Our results show that gene therapy reagents are effective in human inner ear tissue. Taken together with the results from another group of scientists who showed that similar gene therapy compounds can produce new hair cells and restore hearing function in guinea pigs suggest that the future of gene therapy in the human inner ear is sound," Holt said.
I have known about these two things for a couple weeks and I have contacted doctor Holt at the University of Virginia Health System and he said the wait should be over soon for me. 1-3 years, I'm hoping. When I get my hearing back I will try to enlist again and then I will go buy the "hearing pill" so I don't lose it again.
If you have any questions about hearing loss restoration please feel free to ask, or just post comments in this thread. I have heavily researched and donated time and money to this cause because it personally affects me and my future.
Hope this was interesting to you all;
Jordon.