Hearing loss
What is hearing loss?
The inner ear (or 'cochlea') contains around 15,000 microscopic sensory hair cells which vibrate at different frequencies. These sensory cells activate nerve fibres which carry sound signals to our brain. Degeneration of the sensory hair cells happens with ageing, disease, injury, or exposure to loud noise. Since these cells can't be regenerated, hearing loss is permanent and irreversible.
Read more about hearing lossKey Statistics
Hearing loss research at Garvan
Garvan has been a leader in Australian auditory research since 2010. Our research is diverse, focusing on the anatomy and physiology of normal hearing, and brain pathology caused by hearing loss (including tinnitus). We also study the restorative effects of assistive devices.
Our hearing loss research