Cochlear Synaptopathy: The “Hidden” Form of Hearing Loss

MedEvidence Articles

MedEvidence Articles
Cochlear Synaptopathy: The “Hidden” Form of Hearing Loss
Jun 16, 2026
MedEvidence Articles

In this episode, we’re talking about cochlear synaptopathy, also known as “hidden hearing loss,” a lesser-known form of hearing damage that can make understanding speech difficult even when standard hearing tests appear normal. 

References:

  • Ponsot E. Unraveling hidden hearing loss. Elife. 2024 Dec 5;13:e104936. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.104936
  • Haile LM, Kamenov K, Briant PS, Orji AU, Steinmetz JD, Abdoli A, Abdollahi M, Abu-Gharbieh E, Afshin A, Ahmed H, Rashid TA. Hearing loss prevalence and years lived with disability, 1990–2019: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. The Lancet. 2021 Mar 13;397(10278):996-1009. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00516-X
  • Livingston G, Huntley J, Liu KY, Costafreda SG, Selbæk G, Alladi S, Ames D, Banerjee S, Burns A, Brayne C, Fox NC. Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2024 report of the Lancet standing Commission. The lancet. 2024 Aug 10;404(10452):572-628.
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  • Liberman MC, Kujawa SG. Cochlear synaptopathy in acquired sensorineural hearing loss: Manifestations and mechanisms. Hearing research. 2017 Jun 1;349:138-47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heares.2017.01.003
  • Bramhall N, Beach EF, Epp B, Le Prell CG, Lopez-Poveda EA, Plack CJ, Schaette R, Verhulst S, Canlon B. The search for noise-induced cochlear synaptopathy in humans: Mission impossible?. Hearing research. 2019 Jun 1;377:88-103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heares.2019.02.016

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