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#TheAussieEarBank
Help Our Scientists Unlock Genes That Cause Hearing Loss
Hearing loss affects over 1.5 billion people worldwide and is projected to increase to 2.5 billion by 2050. Genes play an important role in congenital hearing loss, contributing to 50% of cases of deafness.
Why it's important to help
The Aussie Ear Bank
The Aussie Ear Bank will allow increased access to genetic samples by linking to national and international registries through a network of clinicians, researchers, institutes and patients.
The establishment of the registry and biobank will enable Ear Science and collaborators to address the many causes of genetic-associated hearing loss and facilitate clinical trial activity in Western Australia, nationally and internationally.
This activity has been supported by a $500,000 Western Australia Future Health Research and Innovation Grant IDFHRIFES2024/2, $150,000 grant fromThe Ian Potter Foundation and kind donations from our Gift of Hearing donors, but more is needed to reach our $10 Million goal.
Please donate today and together we can discover genetic treatments for hearing loss.
Help Stop Genetic Hearing Loss
Research shows that genetics is a big factor in middle age and older peoples hearing loss and not just loud noise as previously thought, which means it is potentially treatable.
Hearing loss is a major contributor to global disability and although hearing loss increases for about half of those aged 60 to 70, to 70% of those aged 70 plus, it doesn't just impact the older population.
Permanent hearing loss is estimated to affect up to 2 in every 1,000 babies born, and increases during childhood to as many as 3 per 1,000 children between ages of 9 to 16 years old. As well as 1 in 2 Aboriginal children in remote areas experience serious middle ear infections that can cause hearing loss.
With 155 genes linked to hearing loss and new discoveries every day, navigating this complex genetic landscape presents a monumental challenge, but one we can overcome with your help.
Jody's Family: First Gene Deposit
Jody was born with significant multigenerational hearing loss, wearing hearing aids since she was young; she knows the benefits of scientific research and discovery of ear and hearing treatments. Jody, her son, and her father all experienced varying degrees of hearing loss and are all cochlear implant recipients. Through their personal journeys, they have experienced first-hand the life-changing scientific breakthroughs in hearing devices such as cochlear implants that have had positive emotional, social, educational and professional impacts on their family.
The French/Maitland family, being part of three generations impacted by hearing loss have been keen to be the first family to contribute to The Aussie Ear Bank and be the first to undergo genetic analysis, offering the opportunity for a potential cure for hearing loss for their future grandchildren and their children.
If you believe or know that your hearing loss is likely to have a gentic component, i.e. a strong family history of hearing loss and you want to be part of our research click below for more info on how to get involved.
