Scientists at the Oklahoma City’s Hough Ear Institute and the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation are working on a drug that may cut down on hearing loss suffered by soldiers, factory workers, machinists and others who work in a loud environment. A few years ago, Robert Floyd and Richard Kopke gave soldiers a drug called NAC before they went to a firing range. The troops who received the drug kept about a quarter more of their hearing than those who did not receive it. Now they are combining it with nitrone which is used for treating cancer. They believe the combination of both drugs will prevent hair cells in the ear from dying.
