Hidden Hearing Loss: A Disorder with Multiple Etiologies and Mechanisms
- 1Kresge Hearing Research Institute, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
- 2MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animals for Disease Study, Model Animal Research Center of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210061, Jiangsu Province, China
- 3Institute for Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210061, Jiangsu Province, China
- Correspondence: corfas{at}med.umich.edu
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↵4 These authors contributed equally to this work.
Abstract
Hidden hearing loss (HHL), a recently described auditory disorder, has been proposed to affect auditory neural processing and hearing acuity in subjects with normal audiometric thresholds, particularly in noisy environments. In contrast to central auditory processing disorders, HHL is caused by defects in the cochlea, the peripheral auditory organ. Noise exposure, aging, ototoxic drugs, and peripheral neuropathies are some of the known risk factors for HHL. Our knowledge of the causes and mechanisms of HHL are based primarily on animal models. However, recent clinical studies have also shed light on the etiology and prevalence of this cochlear disorder and how it may affect auditory perception in humans. Here, we review the current knowledge regarding the causes and cellular mechanisms of HHL, summarize information on available noninvasive tests for differential diagnosis, and discuss potential therapeutic approaches for treatment of HHL.
