Genetic Susceptibility to Hearing Loss from Noise Exposure

B etween 10 million and 40 million adults in the United States are estimated to have some signs of noiseinduced hearing loss (NIHL).1 NIHL can result from transient exposure to very loud sound bursts, such as gunfires, or chronic exposure to noisy environments. Excessive noise in occupational or recreational settings can be hazardous. Similar levels of noise exposure can affect individuals in different ways; some people are more susceptible while others are more resistant. Though lifestyle differences such as smoking2 are known to confer susceptibility to NIHL, recent evidence suggests that genetics also play a role. This review summarizes the effects of noise on cochlear structures and the animal models being used to understand the genetics of NIHL.

据估计，美国有1000万到4000万成年人有一些噪声性听力损失（NIHL）的症状。噪声性听力损失可由瞬间暴露于非常响亮的声音爆发（如枪声），或长期暴露于嘈杂环境导致。职业或娱乐环境中的过度噪音可能是有害的。相似程度的噪音暴露可能以不同方式影响个体；一些人更易感，而另一些人更具抵抗力。尽管已知吸烟等生活方式差异会使人易患噪声性听力损失，但近期证据表明遗传也起作用。这篇综述总结了噪音对耳蜗结构的影响以及用于了解噪声性听力损失遗传学的动物模型。