Stem Cell for Hearing Loss and Tinnitus
Do you often have to ask people to repeat themselves or have trouble following a conversation in a loud room? Are you bothered by a constant ringing or buzzing in your ears? If these problems sound familiar, you may be experiencing some degree of hearing loss. Although often associated with aging, hearing loss can occur at any time and affects 17 percent of men and women in the United States. Often gradual, hearing loss can make it difficult to connect with others and may negatively impact your quality of life.
Depending on the type of hearing loss you experience, many different treatments are available, from reconstructive ear surgery and implants to hearing aids. Unfortunately, these treatments cannot reverse hearing loss, but medical research is developing more permanent solutions that don’t rely on these devices. Among the most promising of these is stem cell therapy, with scientists at acclaimed universities such as MIT demonstrating their potential to restore the function of the inner ear by regenerating vital structures. At Broward ENT & Aesthetics, board-certified otolaryngologist Dr. Wilson DuMornay and his team are pleased to help patients learn more about stem cell therapy and give them the opportunity to try this cutting-edge treatment for hearing loss and tinnitus, now offered at our location in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Hearing Loss and Tinnitus
Hearing loss is when your ability to hear sound is reduced. The degree to which this occurs differs with each individual, from the capacity to hear some sound to nothing at all. Tinnitus describes a ringing or buzzing in the ears that can be constant or come and go. Usually associated with hearing loss, tinnitus is often a symptom of an underlying condition. Although many factors can impact our ability to hear, in most cases hearing loss and tinnitus are either age-related or noise-induced. Common causes of hearing loss and tinnitus include:
- Injury
- Aging
- Prolonged exposure to loud noises
- Genetics
- Perforated eardrum
- Smoking
- Infections of the inner ear
- Ménière’s disease
- High blood pressure
The inner ear is a complex structure, with many different parts working together to help us interpret the sounds we hear. The portion of the inner ear known as the cochlea is especially important, containing over 25,000 sensory hair cells that detect and respond to sound. These tiny hairs are extremely sensitive and can become damaged, negatively impacting the ability to hear. Once damaged, these hair cells do not regrow, which can result in permanent hearing loss. Regenerating cochlear hair cells has been the main focus of stem cell treatments for hearing loss, which can potentially restore the ability to hear without the use of hearing aids or other devices.
What Are Stem Cells?
Stem cells are special cells that serve as the building blocks of our bodies. Present in everything from our vital organs to our hair, stem cells are unique because they can transform into many different types of cells. This gives them amazing regenerative effects and the ability to heal areas damaged due to disease or injury. By harnessing the power of stem cells, researchers have developed therapies that may be used to treat a wide array of ailments, from Parkinson’s disease to hearing loss.
There are many different kinds of stem cells found throughout the body that are collected and used in several ways. At Broward ENT & Aesthetics, we use peripheral and adipose-derived stem cells harvested from a patient’s own blood or bone marrow and fat tissues. These stem cells are abundant, therapeutically active and able to differentiate in many different types of cells. When applied in stem cell treatments, peripheral and adipose-derived stem cells can exert many beneficial effects and help regenerate damaged tissues in treated areas.
How Can Stem Cells Treat Hearing Loss and Tinnitus?
Stem cell therapy is already widely practiced to treat individuals with leukemia and lymphoma, but scientists are continually exploring more applications for this promising treatment. By regenerating the small hair cells in the inner ear, researchers have demonstrated that stem cell therapy can also effectively treat hearing loss and tinnitus. To accomplish this, stem cells are first harvested and processed for treatment using advanced techniques that ensure their health and viability. These stem cells are then delivered into the cochlea through an infusion or injection, where they’ll migrate and fuse with surrounding structures. Here, they’ll differentiate and develop to replace damaged hair cells, which can lead to significant improvements in the ability to hear. The use of PRP and growth factors can help this process and stimulate the differentiation of transplanted stem cells.
Stem Cell Therapy at Broward ENT & Aesthetics
Stem cell therapy for hearing loss and tinnitus at Broward ENT & Aesthetics is a two-day consecutive procedure. Stem cell treatments will begin with a consultation and blood draw. If peripheral stem cells are used, it will take 24 hours for processing and PRP isolation. Once ready, patients will return to receive an injection or infusion of stem cells. For adipose-derived stem cells, day one of the procedure will be similar, but the next day patients will return for mini-liposuction to harvest adipose tissue stem cells. The processing will take about 4 hours, after which the injection or infusion can begin. Depending on the collection method, therapy treatments offer minimal to no downtime and appointments can be scheduled within one week of consultations.
At Broward ENT & Aesthetics, we specialize in treating otolaryngological ailments such as hearing loss, tinnitus, or arthritis of the jaw joint, known as temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). To help our patients feel their best at any age, we’re proud to offer the most innovative
and cutting-edge treatments, including stem cell therapy. Ideal for patients who are looking for nonsurgical alternatives or who simply want to try something new, regenerative stem cell therapy has become one of the most promising advances in medical technology. With a wide range of applications, stem cell therapy can offer patients hope and healing when other treatments are ineffective or unavailable.
Stem Cell Therapy Benefits and Results
Stem cells are the body’s most important natural repair mechanisms, working to regenerate new tissue, help stimulate cell growth and repair areas damaged by disease or injury. Stem cell therapy harnesses this amazing ability, utilizing adult stem cells to home in on and target damaged tissues throughout the body. Since each individual is different, benefits from stem cell treatments can vary from patient to patient. Many factors can affect the outcome of your treatment, including your current health condition, medical history, level of damage, age and more. Some patients require multiple treatments, but this will depend on your individual response and progress.
To improve therapeutic benefits, our stem cell treatments are combined with hyperbaric oxygen sessions. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy allows more oxygen to enter the bloodstream, a treatment that is often used to treat serious medical concerns such as anemia, carbon monoxide poisoning and vision loss. When used as a part of stem cell therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been shown to provide a variety of beneficial effects, including increased stem cell proliferation and activity, as well as an improved healing response.
Contact Broward ENT & Aesthetics
Making the decision to enroll in stem cell therapy is an exciting and promising opportunity with the potential to help patients with hearing loss and tinnitus regain their auditory senses. Specializing in ear, nose and throat treatments, board-certified otolaryngologist Dr. Wilson DuMornay and his dedicated team are excited to help you learn more about stem cell therapy and what it can do for you. Contact or call Broward ENT & Aesthetics at (954) 533-9822 to get started today.
