>> Anchor: HAVING TROUBLE
HEARING IN A LOUD OR CROWDED
ROOM?
YOU COULD SUFFER FROM A HIDDEN
TYPE OF HEARING LOSS.
>> ONCE THERE IS HIDDEN HEARING
LOSS, AFTER AWHILE THE HIDDEN
HEARING LOSS WILL BECOME NOT SO
HIDDEN HEARING LOSS.
LOSS.
MAY NOT SHOW UP ON TRADITIONAL
HEARING TEST BUT IT COULD HAVE A
BIG IMPACT ON YOUR LIFE.
>> Anchor: DR. FRANK MCGEORGE
IS HERE TO EXPLAIN NEW TYPE OF
HEARING LOSS AND WHAT CAUSES IT.
>> Reporter: THAT'S RIGHT.
HIDDEN HEARING LOSS DESCRIBED BY
RESEARCHERS IN UK FEW YEARS AGO.
BUT NOW WITH LOCAL RESEARCHERS
LEARNING MORE ABOUT HOW IT MIGHT
OCCUR AND WHAT IT COULD MEAN FOR
ALL OF US.
IT CAN HAPPEN IN A NOISY LUNCH
ROOM OR A CROWDED RESTAURANT.
YOU FIND YOU CANNOT SEEM TO HEAR
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING.
>> ONCE I LEARNED ABOUT HIDDEN
SENSE.
>> Reporter: HAILEY WORKS IN
THE COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT AT
MICHIGAN MEDICINE.
AND SHE HAS NOTICED A ISSUE IN
HER OWN COMMUNICATING.
>> WHEN I AM IN A MEETING OR
TALKING ON THE PHONE OR
HEARING.
BUT I DO NOTICE I HAVE TO ASK
PEOPLE TO REPEAT THEMSELVES WHEN
I AM IN A RESTAURANT OR BAR OR
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> Reporter: HAILEY IS FAR
FROM ALONE.
U OF M AUDIOLOGIST SAW MANY
PATIENT THAT IS COMPLAIN OF
HEARING ISSUES AND WHEN THEY
HAVE A HEARING TEST.
>> IT COMES OUT PRETTY NORMAL OR
CLOSE TO NORMAL.
YOU SAY WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT
YOU ARE REALLY TALKING ABOUT
PERFECTLY FINE.
>> Reporter: NOW HE BELIEVES
MANY OF THE PATIENTS ARE
LOSS.
RESEARCHER COREVIS.
>> THERE IS A LOT MORE NOISE
EXPOSURE THESE DAYS.
WE LIVE IN A VERY NOISY SOCIETY.
NOISY ENVIRONMENT.
>> Reporter: COREVIS SAID THAT
LOUD NOISE CAN DAMAGE
CONNECTIONS BETWEEN SO-CALLED
HAIR CELLS IN THE EARS ESSENTIAL
FOR HEARING.
>> IT WAS DISCOVERED THESE NOISE
EXPOSURES CAUSE A PERMANENT
HIDDEN HEARING LOSS.
THAT EVENTUALLY LEADS US TO THE
YEARS TO HAVE VERY SIGNIFICANT
ENVIRONMENTS.
>> Reporter: AS A RESULT YOU
MAY HEAR FINE IN QUIET SETTINGS
BUT STRUGGLE IN NOISY
SITUATIONS.
NOW BY STUDYING THE PROBLEM IN
MICE RESEARCHERS 59 U OF M FOUND
A SECOND CAUSE FOR HIDDEN
HEARING LOSS.
LOSS OF MYLAN THAT INSULATES
NERVES CRITICAL FOR HEARING.
>> RIGHT NOW WE WILL BE WORKING
TOGETHER WITH OUR CLINICIANS AND
HAPPENS.
AND TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND HOW
PROFOUND IT IS.
AND THINK HOW WE CAN CURE IT.
>> Reporter: THIS TEST MAY
HELP TO DETERMINE WHO IS
LOSS.
SOMEONE HEARS.
IT MEASURES HOW WELL HEARING
NERVE ITSELF FUNCTIONS.
>> THAT'S THE HEARING NERVE
RESPONSE RIGHT HERE.
>> Reporter: LINES REPRESENT
TO THE BRAIN.
>> THIS IS AS CLOSE AS WE CAN
NON-INVASIVE PROCEDURE.
>> Reporter: NEXT STEP COMPARE
NORMAL TEST RESULTS LIKE THIS
ONE TO TESTS IN PEOPLE SUFFERING
FROM HIDDEN HEARING LOSS.
AND THE ULTIMATE GOAL TO FIND
BETTER WAYS TO DIAGNOSE HIDDEN
HEARING LOSS AND GUIDE RESEARCH
TO FIND DRUGS TO TREAT IT.
BUT THESE EXPERTS HOPE BEING
ABLE TO SHOW PATIENTS IT IS
DAMAGE.
>> WE CAN PROBABLY PREVENT THIS
BIT.
>> Reporter: THAT MEANS
PROTECTING YOUR HEARING FROM
LOUD NOISES INCLUDING MUSIC.
>> THAT EXPOSURE CAN BE DAMAGING
OUR ABILITY TO HEAR FOR THE REST
OF OUR LIVES.
JUST KEEP THE VOLUME DOWN.
IF SOMEBODY ELSE CAN HEAR WHAT
BUDS.
THAT IS A PROBLEM.
>> Reporter: IT IS ADVICE
HAILEY FOLLOWS HOPING TO
PRESERVE HER HEARING FOR MANY
DECADES TO COME.
OFTEN.
I DO LOVE TO LISTEN TO MUSIC BUT
ESPECIALLY IN THE CAR.
>> Reporter: HEARING NERVE
TEST IS SOMETHING USED BY
AUDIOLOGISTS FOR OTHER REASONS
AND RESEARCHERS ARE HOPING IT
CAN HELP THEM TO LEARN MUCH MORE
ABOUT HIDDEN HEARING LOSS.
CURRENTLY THERE IS NO TREATMENT
FOR HIDDEN HEARING LOSS SO FOCUS
IS ON PREVENTION.
>> Anchor: STRICTLY BECAUSE
SOMETIMES THE PERSON SUFFERING
>> Reporter: EXACTLY.