Hearing Disorders

The study will analyze the auditory functions of patients with Multiple Sclerosis using auditory tests like pure tone auditory test, speech perception test, Auditory Brain Response (ABR) and Distortion Product Otoacustic Emission (DPOAE). CSF will be collected by lumbar puncture and analyzed looking for inflammatory markers. The results of DPOAE and CSF will be correlated to identify statistically significant correlation.

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine the efficacy of Clemastine Fumarate in the presence of engineered sound to treat age-related central auditory processing disorder (CAPD). This disorder impacts 800M patients worldwide, including \~1/3 people over 40 years of age and \~1/2 people over 65, resulting in an inability to hear in noisy environments. The primary hypothesis this study aims to test is: engineered sound, driving localized neural circuit activity, will enable Clemastine Fumarate to mature Oligodendrocyte cells and thus remyelinate these activated neural circuits. This Localized Oligodendrocyte Optimization Therapy (LOOT) was highly effective in preclinical animal studies so this clinical trial aims to answer if this therapy will translate to humans. The study is an adaptive design intended to compare the efficacy of the drug in the presence or absence of the engineered sound for improving hearing in noise ability. Trial participants will be tested for hearing thresholds and ability to isolate a sound signal from background noise. If they meet the inclusion criteria, they will be enrolled into one of the four arms of the study and undergo the proposed one-month treatment (drug and sound or respective placebos). After the treatment period, trial participants will be tested again for hearing thresholds and their ability to isolate s sound source of interest from background noise. The hypothesis to be tested in this clinical trial is that the one-month treatment will significantly improve the participant's ability to isolate a sound source of interest from background noise. The design has four arms, drug+sound, placebo+sound, drug+white noise, and placebo+white noise. Based on our preclinical data, control arms are all expected to show identical results, thus our adaptive design includes interim analyses to allow for dropping of two of the three placebo arms should the preclinical results be replicated as anticipated. We will also monitor each participant's general health during the duration of the clinical trial, which will be done by performing a number of blood tests, an EKG and a general physical before and after the one-month treatment period. We expect no significant changes since participants will take the drug for the one-month period at dosages already demonstrated safe in several Phase II studies of multiple sclerosis. Similarly, the engineered sound will be listened to for one hour per day during this month at sound intensities well below threshold that might cause noise-induced hearing damage.

This research study is evaluating two different methods of cochlear implant (CI) insertion - robotic-assisted insertion and manual insertion - to better understand how they affect hearing outcomes. Participants in this study will be randomly assigned to receive their cochlear implant using one of these two techniques. Both methods are performed in a standard operating room by qualified surgeons, and both are considered safe and approved for use. The main goal is to compare how well participants hear one year after surgery based on the insertion method used. The study will also look at things like surgical time, inner ear health, and how the hearing nerve responds. All participants will receive the same type of cochlear implant device and follow-up care. This study may help guide future surgical techniques and improve outcomes for individuals receiving cochlear implants.

There are many undesirable effects associated with platinum-based cancer treatments (renal failure, anaemia, etc.). Their administration also leads to neurosensory problems such as ototoxicity, tinnitus and reduced hearing acuity. According to a the French survey (2018), 39.7% of people suffer from hearing problems due to cancer treatments, five years after a cancer diagnosis. Improving side effects such as hypoacusis and tinnitus can significantly improve patients' quality of life and adherence to treatment. Many clinical trials proposed a medicinal solution to patients receiving platinum-based cancer treatments but none has led to a consensus on management. The aim of the study is to offer patients receiving platinum-based chemotherapy and suffering from hearing problems a hearing aid to improve their quality of life.

Background: Many disorders of the head and neck can affect a person s hearing; balance; smell; taste; swallowing; voice; or speech. These disorders include cancers and genetic and inflammatory diseases. To find better ways to diagnose and treat these disorders, researchers need to study tissues and other biological samples from people who have them. Objective: To collect biological samples for a repository that will be used for research. Eligibility: People of any age with a disorder of the head and neck that requires the taking of biological samples. The conditions may be any that affect hearing; balance; smell; taste; swallowing; voice; or speech. Design: Part 1: Participants will give permission for their leftover tissue samples to be used for research. These are tissue samples from the head and neck that were collected in the course of routine tests and care or other research studies. Information on each participant s age, diagnosis, and previous treatments will also be collected. Part 2: Some participants may be asked for more samples. All those aged 3 years or older will have a physical exam. They will provide blood and saliva samples. A cotton swab or brush will be used to collect cells from the inside of the cheek. Participants 18 years or older may have additional tests. They may provide nasal secretions: A piece of gelfoam or a sponge will be placed in the nose to soak up secretions for 5 to 10 minutes. They may have biopsies: Small samples of tissue will be cut from the skin and the tissue lining the mouth. Samples may be used for genetic testing.

This study intends to assess safety, tolerability, and efficacy of SENS-501 in children between the ages of 6-31 months with pre-lingual hearing loss due to a mutation in the Otoferlin gene.