Patients Contribute to Shape Future Hearing Loss Treatment

Image of Barbara Kelly from the Hearing Loss Association of America hosting a meeting. Barbara Kelley, executive director of the Hearing Loss Association of America (left), kicks off the first-ever externally led patient-focused drug development meeting for hearing loss May 25, which heard from patients living with hearing loss, to aid in the Food and Drug Administration’s development of future hearing loss therapies. The Defense Health Agency’s Hearing Center of Excellence was among key collaborators involved in the event (Courtesy of HLAA).

The Defense Health Agency's Hearing Center of Excellence collaborated in a first-of-its-kind effort to aid in the development of future drug therapies and devices for patients with hearing loss. During the meeting authorized by the Food and Drug Administration, patients with hearing loss shared their testimonies.

The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) hosted the externally led, patient-focused, drug development meeting for people living with sensorineural (inner ear damage) hearing loss May 25, with key FDA reviewers in attendance. The FDA establishes these types of meetings to help inform its decisions and supervision during drug development and review of marketing applications.

"This was an important opportunity for patients to tell the FDA about their symptoms, assessment of current treatments, experiences, and challenges they face living with hearing loss as a way to personally address their needs and conditions," said the HCE's division chief, Dr. Carlos Esquivel. "We were honored to collaborate as a patient organization with a dedicated interest in improving care and medications for those with hearing loss."

During the meeting, Dr. Gavin Imperato, with the FDA's Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, expressed enthusiasm at the opportunity to hear from patients as the FDA considers specific therapies for people with hearing loss.

The event included two panels of people with hearing loss and a group of patients, caregivers, and their families joining remotely, who shared their most burdensome symptoms, current treatments, and what they would like to see in future therapies.

According to the HLAA, the report Voice of the Patient will be published in the fall based on information from the meeting and comments from patients submitted to the organization through June 25.

The HCE's collaboration in the virtual meeting is a continuation of the center's ongoing engagement with the HLAA on several initiatives, dating back to 2014, according to Esquivel.

In other related efforts, HCE is leading the Pharmaceutical Interventions for Hearing Loss Working Group, which is examining drug development initiatives for service member and veteran hearing loss. The center also provides subject matter expert support to the Department of Defense's acquisition of the Pharmaceutical Intervention for Noise-induced Hearing Loss initiative.

You also may be interested in...

Article
Sep 29, 2023

Real Life Falls Are Not a Laughing Matter: Protect your Body, Ego

Each year thousands of military personnel injure themselves because of falls from vehicles and equipment, tripping over objects, and slipping on hazardous surfaces like ice, snow, or water. Injuries include lacerations requiring stitches, concussions or head injury, sprained ankles, wrists or hands, and broken bones. These often require ER visits and can result in temporary disability and lost duty time for many days or even months. (Defense Centers for Public Health-Aberdeen graphic illustration by Joyce Kopatch)

Cartoons typically portray slips or falls as comical accidents. But falls are no laughing matter. Falls often cause injuries that require emergency room visits for injuries such as lacerations requiring stitches, concussions or head injury, sprained ankles, wrists or hands, or broken bones. Learn how to prevent fall-related injuries.

Article
Sep 28, 2023

Nebraska Air National Guard State Surgeon’s Path Leads Him to Professional Boxing’s Highest Pinnacle

Nebraska Air National Guard Col. (Dr.) Mark Shirley takes in a practice at Mick Doyle’s Kickboxing and Fitness Center in Omaha, Nebraska, on Oct. 10, 2022. A member of the Nebraska Air National Guard where he serves as the state surgeon, Shirley is also a doctor of osteopathic medicine and a member of the emergency department staff of the Memorial Community Hospital and Health System in Blair, Nebraska. (Photo: U.S. Air Force National Guard Lt. Col. Kevin Hynes)

Dressed in surgical scrubs, Nebraska Air National Guard Col. Mark Shirley looks like any other medical doctor pulling a 24-hour emergency department shift. Shirley serves as the state air surgeon where he oversees the medical support required to keep the Nebraska Air Guard’s approximately 1,000 airmen ready to support any and every federal or state ...

Article
Aug 2, 2023

55th Dental Squadron Participates in Operation Healthy Delta

U.S. Air Force Capt. Bethanie Swanson, a dentist, and U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Omalee Vega, the noncommissioned officer in charge, both assigned to the 55th Medical Group in Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, conduct a dental examination during Operation Healthy Delta Innovative Readiness training program in Anna, Illinois, on June 11, 2023.  (Photo: U.S. Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Danielle Dawson)

More than 270 service members from the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force, U.S. Army and U.S. Air National Guard, Army and Air Force Reserve, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, U.S. Navy Reserve, and the U.S Public Health Service collaborated to provide no-cost health services to underserved communities in Illinois and Missouri.

Article
Aug 1, 2023

Case Report: Complicated Urinary Tract Infection Due to an Extensively Resistant Escherichia coli in a Returning Traveler

This article presents the medical case report of a 76-year-old man who returned to the U.S. following overseas travel and was admitted at Hawai'i's Tri­pler Army Medical Center with a complicated urinary tract infection due to an extensively resistant strain of E. coli.

Article
Aug 1, 2023

Active Surveillance for Acute Respiratory Disease Detected No Outbreaks at Four U.S. Army Basic Training Installations in 2022

This article presents the 2022 results of the active surveillance program for acute respiratory disease and Group A Beta-Hemolytic Streptococcus conducted by the Defense Centers for Public Health-Aberdeen at the four Army installations responsible for basic combat training or one-station unit training. This ARD surveillance program rapidly monitors, ...

Article
Jul 25, 2023

Defense Public Health Experts Investigate If Minority Group Service Members are More Likely to Experience Behavioral Health Problems

A recent Department of Defense study found American Indian and Alaska Native U.S. Army Soldiers had higher rates of suicidal ideation than white soldiers. The DOD is investigating behavioral health disparities among minority groups in the military to see how they might mirror similar disparities in the civilian population. (Graphic illustration: Steven Basso, Defense Centers for Public Health-Aberdeen)

U.S. public health agencies such as the National Institute of Mental Health have recognized that certain minority groups appear to experience greater risk for certain behavioral health disorders. The higher rates of adverse health problems in minority groups are often referred to as “disparities.”

Article
Jun 28, 2023

88th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron Focused on ‘Fit to Fight’ Force

Brenda Couch watches over U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Ron Sparkman, a student at the 155th medical group with the Nebraska National Guard, as he checks vitals on an airman during training at Wright-Patterson Medical Center on June 13. Operational Medical Readiness Squadron was this month’s pick for “Dominate the Dirty Work,” a series of stories offering an in depth look at the hard working and dedicated individuals that often go unseen. (Photo: Kenneth J. Stiles, U.S. Air Force)

The 88th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron provides direct support to U.S. Air Force operations by promoting and sustaining force health, preventing injury and illness, restoring health, and elevating human performance. Its top priority is ensuring airmen and military members are medically ready to execute their missions at home-base and deployed ...

Skip subpage navigation
Refine your search