Auditory neuropathy is a hearing disorder where sound enters the inner ear normally, but the transmission of signals from the inner ear to the brain is impaired. This condition occurs due to damage or dysfunction in the auditory nerve fibers or inner hair cells of the cochlea, leading to a disruption in the timing and clarity of sound transmission. Individuals with auditory neuropathy may experience hearing loss, difficulty understanding speech, especially in noisy environments, and fluctuating hearing abilities. Diagnosis typically involves audiometric tests and auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing, which reveal normal outer hair cell function but abnormal neural responses.
Every year, thousands of children are born with disabling hearing loss and the majority of cases of congenital hearing loss are due to an underlying genetic cause. However, few individuals receive a genetic diagnosis and a key barrier is the availability and accessibility of genetic testing.
A genetic diagnosis may lead to better insight to help guide medical management and decision making, as well as determine potential eligibility for clinical studies or future clinical trials.
The Resonate program provides genetic testing for eligible individuals with auditory neuropathy. To help understand their genetic testing results, program participants in the United States also have access to optional genetic counseling provided through the program by InformedDNA, at no cost to participants, their insurance, or their healthcare providers.
What is the Program?
Resonate® is a no-charge genetic testing and counseling program for sensorineural hearing loss, sponsored by Akouos, Inc. Resonate uses a comprehensive panel of nearly 300 genes to potentially determine whether there is an underlying genetic cause of hearing loss. U.S. healthcare providers can order directly through PreventionGenetics; alternatively, providers (including audiologists) can refer patients to genetic counselors at InformedDNA who can provide pre- and post-test counseling and ordering of sponsored sensorineural hearing loss genetic testing. Providers will receive a genetic testing report and a report from the genetic counselor (if applicable).
Either order the test using akouosresonate.preventiongenetics.com or refer for genetic counseling, plus test ordering using InformedDNA.
Program Information
The Resonate program aims to improve access to genetic testing for individuals of any age with a clinical diagnosis of auditory neuropathy or a medical history consistent with auditory neuropathy. It provides genetic testing at no cost to the participants, helping to guide medical management and potentially determine eligibility for clinical trials.
In addition to genetic testing, the Resonate program offers optional genetic counseling to help participants understand their genetic testing results. This counseling is provided through InformedDNA in the United States and includes a comprehensive review of medical and family history, interpretation of identified genetic variants, and medical management recommendations.
Eligibility for the program requires having a current or previous clinical diagnosis of auditory neuropathy or a medical history consistent with auditory neuropathy. Interested participants should contact their healthcare provider, who can then order the test through Prevention Genetics.
The genetic testing in the Resonate program uses the Prevention Genetics Resonate panel, which includes 274 genes associated with genetic forms of hearing loss.
No, there is no cost to the participants, their insurance, or healthcare providers for participating in the Resonate program. The program is designed to be accessible and remove financial barriers to genetic testing for auditory neuropathy.
Akouos is a precision genetic medicine company dedicated to developing gene therapies with the potential to restore, improve, and preserve high-acuity physiologic hearing for individuals living with disabling hearing loss worldwide. Leveraging its precision genetic medicine platform that incorporates a proprietary adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector library and a novel delivery approach, Akouos is focused on developing precision therapies for forms of sensorineural hearing loss. Headquartered in Boston, Akouos was founded in 2016 by leaders in the fields of neurotology, genetics, inner ear drug delivery, and AAV gene therapy. www.akouos.com
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