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Updated: Jan 13, 2026

Neuro-rehabilitation Approach for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Published on: January 25, 2016
Cochlear Homeostasis in Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Mechanisms, Implications, and Therapeutic Prospects
Srdjan M Vlajkovic1,2, Haruna Suzuki-Kerr1,2, Bryony A Nayagam3
1Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1023, New Zealand.
None:
Cochlear homeostasis is critical for the preservation of hearing sensitivity by maintaining optimal cochlear fluid composition, sustaining electrochemical gradients, and supporting the function of sensory and supporting cells in the cochlea. Sensorineural hearing loss, resulting from the damage or loss of sensory hair cells, auditory neurons and other cochlear cells and structures, is intimately linked to disruptions in the homeostatic environment. In this narrative review, we explore the cellular and molecular pathways underpinning cochlear homeostasis in health and disease and examine the mechanisms by which failed homeostasis leads to sensorineural hearing loss. We further discuss current research avenues and emerging therapeutic strategies to restore or compensate for the loss of homeostatic balance. These interventions suggest a future where regenerative healing is possible, ultimately leading to permanent repair and functional recovery.
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