Friday, April 17, 2015

Rick Friedman, professor of otolaryngology and neurosurgery at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and senior author of the study.

By Alison Trinidad

In a new genome-wide association study, an international team led by Keck Medicine of USC neuroscientists has found evidence that some people may be more genetically susceptible to noise-induced hearing loss than others.

Noise-induced hearing loss is one of the most common work-related illnesses in the United States, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. At especially high risk are troops in the Armed Forces. In 2013, the Department of Veterans Affairs reported hearing loss as one of the most common disabilities among veterans receiving disability compensation.

Those at higher genetic risk for hearing loss may decide to take additional precautionary measures to protect their hearing prior to hazardous noise exposure, study authors say.

See full article here.