2017年CRI Int'l Advanced Forum on Auditory Neuropathy held in Nobel Forum（在线收听）

An international forum on Auditory Neuropathy has wrapped up at the headquarters for the Nobel Prize in Stockholm, Sweden.

CRI's Chen Xuefei with the details.

Professor Wang Qiuju from the People's Liberation Army General Hospital in Beijing, as well as Chairwoman of the International Association of Physician in Audiology (IAPA), says it is the first time that the International Advanced Forum on Auditory Neuropathy has been held in the Nobel Forum, which is among the most reputable venues in the world.

"Because of the mysteries of Auditory Neuropathy and its great impact on human health, all the experts here have made great achievements to uncover the veil of the disease with an extraordinary scientific spirit, courage and wisdom, revealing its ethology and pathogenic mechanism."

As a special disorder of hearing loss that affects human health and verbal communication, Auditory Neuropathy has perplexed the scientific community for more than 30 years.

During the conference, the attendees have shared knowledge and experiences that are contributed by experts and professors from different countries of the world, and also discussed the challenges that still face them in treating the disease.

Professor Arnold Starr from the University of California gives a presentation on his naming of Auditory Neuropathy on Nov. 2, 2017 at the Nobel Forum. [Photo: China Plus/Chen Xuefei]

Professor Arnold Starr from the University of California gives a presentation on his naming of Auditory Neuropathy on Nov. 2, 2017 at the Nobel Forum. [Photo: China Plus/Chen Xuefei]

Professor Arnold Starr of the US and Professor Kimitaka Kaga from Japan, as well as late Chinese Professor Gu Rui, have introduced and described the disorder, which features low frequency hearing loss and concurrent communication difficulties.

Subsequently, Professor Starr named it Auditory Neuropathy.

Over the past twenty years, Auditory Neuropathy has become a hot and difficult topic in the field of international otology, physiology, genetics and stem cell therapy.

Professor Wang Qiuju says many scholars in the world have made great efforts to explore the cause, accurate diagnosis and effective intervention of the disease, especially the experts and researchers attending the event in Stockholm.

In recent years, rapid advances have been made in the field of genetics, and the synaptic function of inner hair cells has promoted significant breakthroughs in understanding and intervention of Auditory Neuropathy.

Therefore, the IAPA has proposed to update the Clinical Practice Guideline for Assessment and Management of Auditory Neuropathy, so as to facilitate the latest research results in clinical application and benefit patients all around the world.

Professor Jose Juan Barajas de Prat says it is very rewarding for all to attend this well-organized forum, adding he is very grateful for the contributions made by his Chinese colleagues.

"You need to realize that China has very interesting first class scientists. The only thing happens probably because of language barriers they are not very well known, but everyday this is less and less so. "

Professor Richard Salvi from the University of Buffalo says attending the forum has been very beneficial.

"I have been to China many times and Stockholm many times but to an auditory neuropathy meeting in Stockholm is the first time, it is very interesting to see some of the pioneers in the field of auditory neuropathy and see some of the young people in the field. "

Duan Maoli, Associate Professor at the Karolinska Institute and Professor Wang have co-chaired the forum, which has attracted a total of 70 experts and researchers from 13 countries, including Australia, Britain, China, Egypt, Poland, Sweden and the US.

For CRI, Chen Xuefei, Stockholm.