Dear Colleagues,

Recently a 1st Edition of Rehabilitation of Hearing Impairment was completed. The interest of this research area was amazing and resulted in eleven high-quality scientific reports on this important subject. New knowledge emerged e.g., showing that individualized treatment plans and timely re-evaluations are crucial for an efficient audiological rehabilitation. Another study on patients aged 85 showed that the CI positively affected their well-being.

Against the positive response on the field of rehabilitation of hearing impairment we are now inviting to a 2nd edition.

The prevalence of hearing impairment is increasing and at present is the third leading cause of years lived with disability, well exceeding diseases such as diabetes and depressive disorders. A recent report – a systematic and meta-analysis study - from Univ of South Carolina concludes that unsafe recreational listening practices in adolescence and youngsters are highly prevalent worldwide and may place over 1 billion young people at risk of hearing loss. Here we have to attack not only improved rehabilitation but also issues of prevention.

Many questions concerning hearing impairment and rehabilitation remain to be answered. Recent work has suggested an association between hearing loss and cognitive functioning. Mechanisms underlying this association are still unclear though evidence indicates higher-order central processing to affect auditory abilities. Importantly, studies suggest that rehabilitation of the hearing loss may have an impact on cognitive outcomes/central functioning.

Another area under development is new molecular therapies for treatment of hearing loss.  Potential for repair and regeneration in the cochlea by use new biomaterials, gene therapy technologies, cell therapy and the use of the cochlear implant as a vehicle for drug delivery is challenging..

The aim of the present 2nd Special Issue on “Rehabilitation of Hearing Impairment” is to elaborate on today’s evidence-based knowledge on aural rehabilitation, to provide an update on technical rehabilitation by hearing aids, bone conduction devices and cochlear implants and to highlight aspects of psychosocial rehabilitation of hearing impairment related to severity, age, gender, mental fatigue, comorbidity, rehabilitation at distance, cognition, but also molecular therapies etc.  We are greatly looking forward to and encourage submissions aiming to shed light on these meaningful aspects.

Prof. Dr. Sten Hellström
Guest Editor

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• sensorineural hearing loss
• rehabilitation
• communication strategies
• auditory training
• cognition
• hearing aids
• cochlear implants
• assistive listening devices
• molecular therapies