Mass. Eye and Ear in Harvard Medicine, Spring 2010

It's our five senses--our sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch--which help us to navigate our environment. They're a precious gift that many of us take for granted. The Spring 2010 Issue of Harvard Medicine explores "The Five Senses," including the many contributions Mass. Eye and Ear researchers and physicians make to provide a better understanding of, and better treatments for, conditions that could rob us of the ability to fully experience our world. 

The Dangers of a Misspent Youth
Lady Gaga steps on stage with a spray of pyrotechnics and an explosion of drums. The mind-blowing concert leaves fans speechless, but their ears are ringing. Hearing loss is a growing problem in young adults and noise exposure is the primary suspect. Read how Mass. Eye and Ear’s Dr. Sharon Kujawa is working with Dr. M. Charles Liberman to learn more about noise-induced and age-related hearing loss.    
  
Back from the Dead
Devices like hearing aids and cochlear implants treat the symptoms of hearing loss but not the cause. Read how Mass. Eye and Ear researchers Drs. Albert Edge, Michael McKenna, Sharon Kujawa and William Sewell are developing a device to treat the cause of hearing loss, bringing hearing stem cells "back from the dead." 
 
Game On
Video games aren’t just an enjoyable way to pass the time. Read what Lotfi Merabet, O.D., Ph.D, Associate Professor at Mass. Eye and Ear, has to say about research into the development of video games that could help people who are blind to navigate their environment. 
  
Vision Quest
Harvard Medical School discoveries have helped shape our vision of the future. Read how Mass. Eye and Ear Drs. Claes Dohlman, Joan W. Miller and Evangelos Gragoudas have been among the many who contributed to the development of leading-edge technologies and treatments that help restore vision.