The systematic use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has dramatically increased the diagnosis of patients with vestibular schwannoma (VS). The majority of patients with VS complain of hypoacusis or tinnitus, and very few present more debilitating symptoms. Therefore, the approach with a patient with VS is complex because the treatment of the tumour is directed towards avoiding complications arising from its growth and not necessarily towards improving the patient’s quality of life. Currently, there are no factors that allow us to predict the growth of vestibular schwannoma.
Recent advances in the field of oncogenetics have allowed us to better understand the development of VS.

The study of the correlation between clinical variables related to the biological behaviour of VS and its genetic and epigenetic disorders aims to find the factors that predict the behaviour of VS. This will help us identify patients who need active treatment of the tumour and avoid the morbidity associated with the treatment in those who do not need it.

The cochlear implant (CI) is currently the only solution for relieving the condition in patients with severe or profound hypoacusis who do not benefit from a prosthetic adaptation with a conventional hearing aid. It is estimated that there are currently 120,000 adults in Spain with profound sensorineural hypoacusis. In recent years, new hearing implants have been developed including osseointegrated implants and active middle ear implants. It´s excellent and often spectacular results and its low rate of complications have transformed CI from an innovative technology in the experimental phase to a routine, safe and effective procedure, capable of returning deaf individuals to the hearing world and ending their isolation.

Moderate to severe hypoacusis is one of the most prevalent medical problems. Ciliated sensory cells and neurons do not regenerate in mammals, which is the main cause of sensorineural deafness. Mutations causing deficiencies in the levels of the insulin like growth factor I (IGF-I) also cause sensorineural deafness in humans and mice. IGFI is an essential factor in the postnatal development of mammals, and its level decreases with ageing. We are studying the participation of IGF-I in the development of the inner ear and in the pathophysiology of hearing in adults, as well as, the molecular signalling networks conferring specificity in the otic cellular response to IGF-I. We are studying the signals that regulate otic development and also those involved in otic damage with the objective of identifying the key factors implicated in functional repair and regeneration of inner ear cells In short, our work contributes to the study of auditory pathophysiology, with the ultimate objective of investigating the potential clinical usefulness of IGF-I in human hypoacusis originating in the cochlea.