Auditory research involving antioxidants.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The role of antioxidants in the management of hearing loss has generated considerable interest over the past several years. Research efforts in this field have yielded many new insights into the molecular and cellular nature of several types of hearing impairment, including age-related, noise-induced, and drug-induced hearing loss. The objective of this paper is to highlight some of the important studies published over the past several years that have further contributed to our understanding of the mechanism of antioxidants in attenuating hearing loss.

RECENT FINDINGS

There is compelling evidence to suggest that antioxidant therapy is beneficial in attenuating, improving, or reversing the effects of several types of acquired hearing loss. Cellular and subcellular changes resulting from these types of hearing impairment are remarkably similar and seem to have a common putative mechanism of oxidative stress and damage. Recent studies have lent further credibility to the notion that antioxidant therapy can be of considerable benefit in the treatment of hearing loss. The increasing body of literature pertaining to human studies will shed further light into this fascinating area of research.

SUMMARY

This review elucidates the role of antioxidants in hearing loss and illustrates the continued evolution of research efforts in this field.