Neural basis of deafness
Deafness or hearing loss affects 466 million people worldwide, causing severe communication and social exclusion. Understanding the neural basis of deafness can help develop effective interventions to improve the quality of life for those affected by it. Research in this field focuses on the anatomy and physiology of the ear, the central auditory system, and neural mechanisms underlying hearing, processing, and cognition. This article explores the current understanding of the neural mechanisms of deafness and its impact on language processing, attention, and memory. It further discusses the potential applications and limitations of cochlear implants, sign language, gene therapy, and cross-modal plasticity. The challenges faced by researchers are also addressed, along with future research scopes in this area.