Congenital hearing impairment is present in approximately 1 in 1,000 newborns, and yet there is no physiological cure for children who are born deaf. Most cases of congenital deafness are due to a mutation in a gene that is required for normal development of the sensory hair cells in the inner ear that are responsible for detecting sound. To cure deafness caused by such mutations, the expression of the gene must be corrected, a feat that has been elusive until recently.

which was published February 4, 2013 in the journal Nature Medicine.

Dr. Hastings collaborated with research leaders across the country, and the collaboration led to the development of a novel therapeutic approach to treat deafness and balance impairment by injecting mice with a single dose of a small, synthetic RNA-like molecule, called an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO).

The ASO was designed to specifically recognize and fix a mutation in a gene called USH1C that causes Usher syndrome in humans. The ASO blocks the effect of the mutation, allowing the gene product to function properly, thereby preventing deafness.  These Usher mice with the ASO early in life rescues hearing and cures all balance problems. “The effectiveness of the ASO is striking,” states Hastings. “A single dose of the drug to newborn mice corrects balance problems and allows these otherwise deaf mice to hear at levels similar to non-Usher mice for a large portion of their life,” she says.

 The results of the study demonstrate the therapeutic potential of this type of ASO in the treatment of deafness and provide evidence that congenital deafness can be effectively overcome by treatment early in development to correct gene expression.

 SOURCE: Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (Hearing Review (2/24/13)

 

Any kid will run any errand for you, if you ask at bedtime

Red Skelton

 

“It has been my philosophy of life that

difficulties vanish when faced boldly.”

– Isaac Asimov

 

 

iRS tax deducations for the deaf and hard of hearing

You can itemize your medical deductions only if your medical expenses exceed 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income

– mileage for medical appointments

– medicine

– eyeglasses

– insurance premiums

– hearing aid, including batteries and repairs

– special telephone equipment, including flashing devices, captioned phones, etc

– TV sets, including listening devices and repairs

– Hearing ear dog, including vet, food and maintenance costs

– Lip-reading classes

– Assistive devices for home

– Work expenses (devices that help you function at work)

Deaf Digest Blue edition March 3, 2013

 

 

 

Next Meeting:

April 1^st @ 6:00 PM.  The speaker will be David Young, Detective to talk about ID theft and fraud.  Very useful information will be disseminated.  Come one, come come all!

 

A Lipreading Problem: What did that person say?

At the doctor’s office, I thought the front desk receptionist  asked:

Are you still with Anna?

Anna?  Who?

She actually asked:

Are you still with Aetna (medical insurance)?