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Background
The overall aim of this project is to investigate the incidence and consequences of central auditory processing (CAP) abnormalities in adults with glaucoma. This is part of a broader program of work studying CAP abnormalities in patients with neurodegenerative disease.
Glaucoma is an age-related neurodegenerative disease of the optic nerve characterized by the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells. Preliminary data has suggested that glaucoma patients may be at increased risk of suffering from auditory impairment, as common neuropathies occur in both the visual and auditory pathways.
Detail
Affecting 60 million people worldwide, glaucoma is the most common cause of permanent vision-loss.
This study will compare glaucoma patients with age-matched controls to determine the incidence and severity of auditory impairment and CAP abnormality. If significant differences are observed between the two groups, this will provide strong evidence for the co-morbidity of visual and auditory neuropathy in these patients. Such evidence would support the need for altered clinical handling of glaucoma patients in the future.
Findings from this study may also contribute to insights into the underlying mechanisms responsible for these neuropathies, speculated to involve abnormalities in cellular organelles called mitochondria. Such knowledge could contribute to the development of therapeutic intervention in the longer term.
Project leadership
![[title]](http://www.hearingcrc.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/profile_260/content/people/Gary Rance_web.jpg "A/Prof Gary Rance")
Project Team
Peter Carew
