Prof. Bernd Fritzsch – Department Of Biology

Imagine that the sounds you hear become progressively attenuated every day and eventually you are cut off from music, laughter, and any other communication you enjoyed throughout your life. Words you hear may become ambiguous (for example, ‘someday’ and ‘Sunday’ may sound alike) and this word confusion confounds further your understanding of the little you are still able to hear. This will negatively impact the quality of life as we age and when proper communication with our carergivers becomes most essential to meet our increasing physical and mental needs associated with ageing. If unlucky, hearing loss might be combined with phantom sound or tinnitus, also bound to increase.