On the Auditory System: genes, DNA repair and ion channels

Our hearing is of utmost importance in life. Not only can it warn us in dangerous situations, it is also, combined with speech, an important way of communicating with other people. Unfortunately, hearing loss is a very common disorder, whose prevalence increases with age. In 2005, according to the World Health Organization, 278 million people suffered from moderate to profound hearing loss worldwide, accounting for a large socio-economic burden (1). During life, the hearing organ is continuously subjected to accumulating damage from within and outside the body, while its regeneration capabilities are limited. This not only results in increased hearing thresholds, but can also lead to an altered sound perception and a loss of speech discrimination. A better understanding of the genetics, environmental influences and normal physiology of the hearing pathway therefore seems crucial in preventing and treating hearing loss nowadays and in the future.

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