News talks about a startup testing a unique drug molecule that can reverse hearing loss with a new kind of regenerative therapy. The initial results are encouraging – where the improvement in people’s hearing was measured by tests of speech perception. However, there is a long road to the market, and the preliminary results from a 124-person clinical trial are expected next year. The future sounds promising.

Hearing impairment remains a persistent issue in India.

The timeline of auditory devices’ evolution clearly shows that innovations in this space have been intermittent. They have mostly been incremental in the form of enhanced amplification, better noise cancellation and improvements in design, rather than disruptive.

Auditory devices including hearing aids and cochlear implants have been the mainstay of treatment for hearing impairment. They reduce communication barriers, as they enable better speaking and understanding capabilities.

Hearing aids help those with mild to moderate hearing loss by amplifying the sounds, whereas cochlear implants help those with severe to complete hearing loss. They are surgically implanted devices and directly stimulate the auditory nerves, a function performed by inner ear parts in normal circumstances.

There is a wide spectrum in terms of costs when it comes to these devices.