Exposure to loud noise continues to be the largest cause of hearing loss in the adult population. The problem of NIHL impacts a number of disciplines. US standards for permissible noise exposure were originally published in 1968 and remain largely unchanged today. Indeed, permissible noise exposure for US personnel is significantly greater than that allowed in numerous other countries, including for example, Canada, China, Brazil, Mexico, and the European Union. However, there have been a number of discoveries and advances that have increased our understanding of the mechanisms of NIHL. These advances have the potential to impact how NIHL can be prevented and how our noise standards can be made more appropriate.

This comprehensive volume examines the current state of free radical biology and its impact on otology, laryngology, and head and neck function. The chapters collectively highlight the interrelationship of basic and translational studies in each area, define the challenges to translation, and identify the existing basic issues that demand investigation as well as the opportunities for novel intervention to prevent and treat ENT pathology and impairment. In each chapter, or in some cases pairs of chapters, the author(s) have included or married issues of basic research with translational challenges and research, thus defining the pathway by which new basic insights may lead to interventions to prevent or treat impairment. The final chapter of this book reflects a meeting of all the contributors, culminating in a discussion and “white paper” that identifies the challenges to the field and defines the studies and collaborations that may lead to improved understanding of free radical biology in ENT and, subsequently,  new interventions to medically treat ENT pathology.

Exposure to loud noise continues to be the largest cause of hearing loss in the adult population. The problem of NIHL impacts a number of disciplines. US standards for permissible noise exposure were originally published in 1968 and remain largely unchanged today. Indeed, permissible noise exposure for US personnel is significantly greater than that allowed in numerous other countries, including for example, Canada, China, Brazil, Mexico, and the European Union. However, there have been a number of discoveries and advances that have increased our understanding of the mechanisms of NIHL. These advances have the potential to impact how NIHL can be prevented and how our noise standards can be made more appropriate.

This comprehensive volume examines the current state of free radical biology and its impact on otology, laryngology, and head and neck function. The chapters collectively highlight the interrelationship of basic and translational studies in each area, define the challenges to translation, and identify the existing basic issues that demand investigation as well as the opportunities for novel intervention to prevent and treat ENT pathology and impairment. In each chapter, or in some cases pairs of chapters, the author(s) have included or married issues of basic research with translational challenges and research, thus defining the pathway by which new basic insights may lead to interventions to prevent or treat impairment. The final chapter of this book reflects a meeting of all the contributors, culminating in a discussion and “white paper” that identifies the challenges to the field and defines the studies and collaborations that may lead to improved understanding of free radical biology in ENT and, subsequently,  new interventions to medically treat ENT pathology.