This critical review examines the effects of magnesium supplementation on auditory damage associated with noise-induced and idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Study designs included three randomized, placebo-controlled trial experiments and one crossover experiment. Overall, evidence suggests that there is potential for magnesium supplementation as a treatment for noise-induced and i...

Hearing loss is a common problem that can occur at any age and makes verbal communication difficult. The ear is divided anatomically into three sections (external, middle, and inner), and pathology contributing to hearing loss may strike one or more sections. Hearing loss can be categorized as conductive, sensorineural, or both. Leading causes of conductive hearing loss include cerumen impactio...

Mitochondrial pathology plays an important role in both inherited and acquired hearing loss. Inherited mitochondrial DNA mutations have been implicated in both syndromic and non-syndromic hearing loss, as well as in predisposition to aminoglycoside ototoxicity. Acquired mitochondrial dysfunction in the absence of mitochondrial DNA mutations has also been proposed as playing an important role in...

In this review the authors discuss the physiopathologic and electrophysiologic changes of the inner ear in Meniere's disease, otosclerosis, ototoxicity, acoustic neuroma, presbycusis, noise-induced hearing loss, metabolic hearing loss, perilymphatic fistula, syphilis, autoimmune inner ear disease, congenital genetic hearing loss, and viral labyrinthitis. The etiology and pathogenesis of hearing...

This review examined the published evidence for the existence of a relationship between folate and/or vitamin B12 status and age-related hearing loss, otherwise known as presbycusis. Based on vascular research, it was hypothesized that a decline in folate or vitamin B12 levels could detrimentally affect the highly-vascularized cochlea, especially the stria vascularis, thus resulting in increase...

Age-related hearing impairment (ARHI), or presbycusis, is a complex disease with multifactorial etiology. It is the most prevalent sensory impairment in the elderly, and may have detrimental effects on their quality of life and psychological well-being. The aim of this paper is to give an overview of the current data on ARHI, focusing mainly on environmental agents and genetic predisposition in...