A groundbreaking human trial in the UK is set to test Rincell-1, a stem cell therapy aimed at reversing sensorineural hearing loss by regenerating damaged inner ear nerves, potentially improving or replacing cochlear implant treatments.
Google is collaborating with Cochlear, the manufacturer of cochlear implants, and other hearing research organizations to improve hearing-assistance technologies like hearing aids and cochlear implants. The aim is to develop personalized solutions for people with hearing loss by applying AI and machine learning to better identify, categorize, and segregate sound sources, and to improve the fitting and personalization of hearing aids and implants. The partnership is also working on international living guidelines to establish who should be tested and referred for a cochlear implant, as research suggests that only a small percentage of people who could benefit from cochlear implants actually receive one.