Consequences and Mechanisms of Noise‐Induced Cochlear Synaptopathy and Hidden Hearing Loss, With Focuses on Signal Perception in Noise and Temporal Processing

Abstract Noise‐induced synaptopathy and relevant hidden hearing loss (NIS and NIHHL) have been a hot topic in hearing research for almost 15 years. The progress is summarized in this review to address the reversibility of the synaptic damage after the initial loss, and the role of functional deficit...

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Main Authors: Hui Wang, Steven J Aiken, Jian Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-08-01
Series:Advanced Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202409322
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author Hui Wang
Steven J Aiken
Jian Wang
author_facet Hui Wang
Steven J Aiken
Jian Wang
author_sort Hui Wang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Noise‐induced synaptopathy and relevant hidden hearing loss (NIS and NIHHL) have been a hot topic in hearing research for almost 15 years. The progress is summarized in this review to address the reversibility of the synaptic damage after the initial loss, and the role of functional deficit in the repaired synapses as the reason for hearing impairment in addition to the deafferentiation caused by the synaptic loss, per se. The evidence supporting the synaptic repair is summarized. It is pointed out that coding‐in‐noise deficit (CIND) may not be the major problem of NIS and NIHHL, since solid evidence supporting the existence of this deficit is not available even in animal studies, as well as in in human reports. Rather, temporal processing deficits are clearly demonstrated in subjects with NIS and potentially NIHHL. The idea of CIND as the major concern in NIHHL is proposed based upon the functional categorization of the auditory nerve (ANF) by spontaneous rate and the biased loss of the ribbon synapses innervation the low‐SR ANF. The limitation of this hypothesis is discussed in detail. The review also addresses the difficulty of translating animal data to humans and the need for new research in the future.
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spelling doaj-art-1997e7d6bb9446c8a0b613ae3808cfcc2025-08-20T03:40:00ZengWileyAdvanced Science2198-38442025-08-011229n/an/a10.1002/advs.202409322Consequences and Mechanisms of Noise‐Induced Cochlear Synaptopathy and Hidden Hearing Loss, With Focuses on Signal Perception in Noise and Temporal ProcessingHui Wang0Steven J Aiken1Jian Wang2Shanghai Key Laboratory of Sleep Disordered Breathing Department of Orolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery Otolaryngology Institute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Shanghai P. R. ChinaSchool of Communication Sciences and Disorders Dalhousie University Halifax NS CanadaShanghai Key Laboratory of Sleep Disordered Breathing Department of Orolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery Otolaryngology Institute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Shanghai P. R. ChinaAbstract Noise‐induced synaptopathy and relevant hidden hearing loss (NIS and NIHHL) have been a hot topic in hearing research for almost 15 years. The progress is summarized in this review to address the reversibility of the synaptic damage after the initial loss, and the role of functional deficit in the repaired synapses as the reason for hearing impairment in addition to the deafferentiation caused by the synaptic loss, per se. The evidence supporting the synaptic repair is summarized. It is pointed out that coding‐in‐noise deficit (CIND) may not be the major problem of NIS and NIHHL, since solid evidence supporting the existence of this deficit is not available even in animal studies, as well as in in human reports. Rather, temporal processing deficits are clearly demonstrated in subjects with NIS and potentially NIHHL. The idea of CIND as the major concern in NIHHL is proposed based upon the functional categorization of the auditory nerve (ANF) by spontaneous rate and the biased loss of the ribbon synapses innervation the low‐SR ANF. The limitation of this hypothesis is discussed in detail. The review also addresses the difficulty of translating animal data to humans and the need for new research in the future.https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202409322coding‐in‐noise deficitsnoise‐induced synaptopathynoise‐induced hidden hearing lossribbon synapsestemporal processing deficits
spellingShingle Hui Wang
Steven J Aiken
Jian Wang
Consequences and Mechanisms of Noise‐Induced Cochlear Synaptopathy and Hidden Hearing Loss, With Focuses on Signal Perception in Noise and Temporal Processing
Advanced Science
coding‐in‐noise deficits
noise‐induced synaptopathy
noise‐induced hidden hearing loss
ribbon synapses
temporal processing deficits
title Consequences and Mechanisms of Noise‐Induced Cochlear Synaptopathy and Hidden Hearing Loss, With Focuses on Signal Perception in Noise and Temporal Processing
title_full Consequences and Mechanisms of Noise‐Induced Cochlear Synaptopathy and Hidden Hearing Loss, With Focuses on Signal Perception in Noise and Temporal Processing
title_fullStr Consequences and Mechanisms of Noise‐Induced Cochlear Synaptopathy and Hidden Hearing Loss, With Focuses on Signal Perception in Noise and Temporal Processing
title_full_unstemmed Consequences and Mechanisms of Noise‐Induced Cochlear Synaptopathy and Hidden Hearing Loss, With Focuses on Signal Perception in Noise and Temporal Processing
title_short Consequences and Mechanisms of Noise‐Induced Cochlear Synaptopathy and Hidden Hearing Loss, With Focuses on Signal Perception in Noise and Temporal Processing
title_sort consequences and mechanisms of noise induced cochlear synaptopathy and hidden hearing loss with focuses on signal perception in noise and temporal processing
topic coding‐in‐noise deficits
noise‐induced synaptopathy
noise‐induced hidden hearing loss
ribbon synapses
temporal processing deficits
url https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202409322
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AT stevenjaiken consequencesandmechanismsofnoiseinducedcochlearsynaptopathyandhiddenhearinglosswithfocusesonsignalperceptioninnoiseandtemporalprocessing
AT jianwang consequencesandmechanismsofnoiseinducedcochlearsynaptopathyandhiddenhearinglosswithfocusesonsignalperceptioninnoiseandtemporalprocessing