Feature
Hearing the Light
Through optogenetics and new medical devices, optical stimulation of the auditory nerve could improve on current hearing-restoration technology, affording better speech recognition and perception of music.
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More than 5% of the world population—432 million adults and 34 million children—suffer from disabling hearing impairment, making it one of the most frequently reported sensory deficits. Left untreated, hearing loss impacts one’s ability to communicate and is thought to pose a yearly global cost of US$750 billion. Hearing impairment reduces chances in the job market, causes social isolation and increases risks of depression and cognitive decline.
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