Hidden Hearing Loss (HHL), a peripheral hearing disorder with lesions at synapses between inner hair cells and afferent nerve fibers, is also called cochlear synaptopathy (Kujawa & Liberman, 2009), auditory synaptopathy (Moser & Starr, 2016), or cochlear neuropathy (e.g., Furman et al., 2013). It cannot be detected by current standard hearing diagnostic procedures, but the synaptic damage specifically at low-SR nerve endings causing perceptual hearing difficulties such as difficulty hearing in noise, tinnitus, hyperacusis, etc. will bring negative impact on communication ability leading to reduced quality of life (Schaette & McAlpine, 2011). Currently more people are struggling with HHL and it is occurring at a younger age due to increased recreational noise exposure. However, people with perceptual hearing difficulties but with normal hearing sensitivity will be left untreated or be led to other disorder evaluations due to a lack of awareness of synaptic dysfunction, easily accessible diagnostic tools, and effective treatments. It’s important to have a better understanding of HHL publicly and professionally to reduce possible health issues caused by HHL. Studies have been conducted on animals and human subjects trying to identify the etiology and find effective diagnostic and treatment methods on HHL. This presentation will provide thorough but condensed information about HHL with emphasis on diagnosis and treatment, so as to guide professionals to a better understanding of this disorder, increase public awareness for early diagnosis, achieve prompt and proper intervention to prevent further possible auditory damage, leading to a better quality of life.

Yunfang Zheng, Sc.D., M.D., CCC-A, is an associate professor of the department of communication sciences and disorders at Central Michigan University. She was a physician and received her Sc.D. in audiology from Montclair State University. She managed an audiology department at Saint Peter’s University Hospital in New Jersey for three years and was an adjunct professor at Montclair State University. Her research interests include diagnostic audiology, amplification, cochlear implants, and aural rehabilitation, with the goal of helping individuals with hearing difficulties achieve a better quality of life. She has been serving as an editorial board member of several journals, and has published her work in several internationally respected professional journals including Ear and Hearing, Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, American Journal of Audiology, International Journal of Audiology, etc. She has given many scientific presentations at national and international conventions such as the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, American Academy of Audiology, the American Auditory Society, the conference on implantable auditory prostheses, etc. She has also received awards and grants from university, industry, and professional associations to support her research and has mentored many doctoral research projects with different research awards/grants.