Stem cell 'deafness cure' closer

[steven johnson]

Stem cell research is going in many promising directions.

Stem cells that could be used to restore hearing have been successfully created, scientists have said.

A Sheffield University team took stem cells from embryos and converted them into cells that behave like sensory hair cells in the human inner ear.

Their discovery could ultimately help those who have lost hair cells through noise damage and some people born with inherited hearing problems.

But any cure is still some years away, experts told the journal Stem Cell.

The Sheffield team is now working on the next stage of the research to check if the cells can restore hearing.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7974795.stm