Treatment is supportive and consists of management of manifestations. User of hearing aids and/or cochlear implant, suitable educational programs can be offered. Periodic surveillance is also important.

The prognosis of this condition is generally considered good with the appropriate treatment. Management of Legius syndrome is done via the following:

- Physical therapy

- Speech therapy

- Pharmacologic therapy(e.g.Methylphenidate AHHD)

At present, presbycusis, being primarily sensorineural in nature, cannot be prevented, ameliorated or cured. Treatment options fall into three categories: pharmacological, surgical and management.

- There are no approved or recommended pharmaceutical treatments for presbycusis.

About half of people with SSNHL will recover some or all of their hearing spontaneously, usually within one to two weeks from onset. Eighty-five percent of those who receive treatment from an otolaryngologist (sometimes called an ENT) will recover some of their hearing.

- vitamins and antioxidants

- vasodilators

- betahistine (Betaserc), an anti-vertigo drug

- hyperbaric oxygen

- anti-inflammatory agents, primarily oral corticosteroids such as prednisone, methylprednisone

- Intratympanic administration - Gel formulations are under investigation to provide more consistent drug delivery to the inner ear. Local drug delivery can be accomplished through intratympanic administration, a minimally invasive procedure where the ear drum is anesthetized and a drug is administered into the middle ear. From the middle ear, a drug can diffuse across the round window membrane into the inner ear. Intratympanic administration of steroids may be effective for sudden sensorineural hearing loss for some patients, but high quality clinical data has not been generated. Intratympanic administration of an anti-apoptotic peptide (JNK inhibitor) is currently being evaluated in late-stage clinical development.

Auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD) is a specific form of hearing loss defined by the presence of normal or near-normal otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) but the absence of normal middle ear reflexes and severely abnormal or completely absent auditory brainstem response (ABRs).

Individuals presenting with this recently recognised hearing loss appear to display sporadic windows of hearing and not. Very few (1 in 14) will go on to develop normal speech and language but with poor speech perception in background noise and in others, no speech perception and therefore language development is possible.

The condition was originally termed auditory neuropathy (AN) and in 2001 as Auditory Neuropathy / Auditory Dys-synchrony (AN/AD) (to include those cases where no true neuropathy was apparent). In 2008 at a meeting convened at Lake Como in Italy (Guidelines Development

Conference on the Identification and Management

of Infants with Auditory Neuropathy, International

Newborn Hearing Screening Conference, Como, Italy,

June 19–21, 2008), a group of leading authorities on the condition reached a consensus and renamed it as auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder.

About 1 in 1,000 children in the United States is born with profound deafness. By age 9, about 3 in 1,000 children have hearing loss that affects the activities of daily living. More than half of these cases are caused by genetic factors. Most cases of genetic deafness (70% to 80%) are nonsyndromic; the remaining cases are caused by specific genetic syndromes. In adults, the chance of developing hearing loss increases with age; hearing loss affects half of all people older than 80 years.

Genetic counseling is an important tool for preventing new cases if this is wished by at-risk family members. Appropriate genetic counseling is based on an accurate diagnosis. Therefore, clinicians and genetic counselors should use ulcero-mutilating complications as the main diagnostic criteria. Since the disease is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait, there is a Mendelian risk of 50% for subsequent generations regardless of their sex. Prenatal testing for pregnancies at increased risk is possible if the disease-causing mutation has been identified in the family. Predictive testing is useful for young people to avoid serious complications of the disease.

Currently there are no open research studies for otodental syndrome. Due to the rarity of this disease, current research is very limited.

The most recent research has involved case studies of the affected individuals and/or families, all of which show the specific phenotypic symptoms of otodental syndrome. Investigations on the effects of FGF3 and FADD have also been performed. These studies have shown successes in supporting previous studies that mutations to FGF3 and neighboring genes may cause the associated phenotypic abnormalities. According to recent studies involving zebrafish embryos, there is also support in that the FADD gene contributed to ocular coloboma symptoms as well.

Future research studies are required in order to better grasp the specific relationship between the gene involved and its effect on various tissues and organs such as teeth, eyes, and ear. Little is known and there is still much to be determined.

Gene-based therapies for patients with HSAN I are not available to date, hence supportive care is the only treatment available for the patients. Ulcero-mutilating complications are the most serious, prominent, and leading diagnostic features in HSAN I. Since the complications mimic foot ulcers caused by diabetic neuropathy, the treatment for foot ulcers and infections can follow the guidelines given for diabetic foot care which starts with early and accurate counseling of patients about risk factors for developing foot ulcerations. Orthopedic care and the use of well fitting shoes without pressure points should also be included. Recently, the treatment of the foot complications has reached an efficient level allowing treatment on an outpatient basis. Early treatment of the foot complications often avoids hospitalization and, in particular, amputations. In sum, the principles of the treatment are removal of pressure to the ulcers, eradication of infection, and specific protective footwear afterwards.

The recurrence of DOOR in siblings and the finding of DOOR syndrome in a few families with consanguinity suggest that the condition is an autosomal recessive genetic condition. Mutations in TBC1D24 have been identified in 9 families.

Early diagnosis allows better planning of therapy in young patients with NF II. In many cases, the hearing loss is present for 10 years before the correct diagnosis is established. Early in the condition, surgery for an acoustic neurinoma can protect facial nerve function in many patients. In selected cases of patients with very small tumors and good bilateral hearing, surgery may offer the possibility of long-term hearing preservation.

Patients with the Wishard phenotype suffer multiple recurrences of the tumour after surgical treatment. In the case of facial nerve palsy, the muscles of the eyelids can lose their mobility, leading to conjunctivitis and corneal injury. "Lidloading" (implantation of small magnets, gold weights, or springs in the lid) can help prevent these complications. Other means of preserving corneal health include tarsorrhaphy, where the eyelids are partially sewn together to narrow the opening of the eye, or the use of punctal plugs, which block the duct that drains tears from the conjunctival sac. All these techniques conserve moisture from the lacrymal glands, which lubricates the cornea and prevents injury. Most patients with NF II develop cataracts, which often require replacement of the lens. Children of affected parents should have a specialist examination every year to detect developing tumors. Learning of sign language is one means of preparation for those that will most probably suffer complete hearing loss.

In terms of a cure there is currently none available, however for the disease to manifest itself, it requires mutant gene expression. Manipulating the use of protein homoestasis regulators can be therapuetic agents, or a treatment to try and correct an altered function that makes up the pathology is one current idea put forth by Bushart, et al. There is some evidence that for SCA1 and two other polyQ disorders that the pathology can be reversed after the disease is underway. There is no effective treatments that could alter the progression of this disease, therefore care is given, like occupational and physical therapy for gait dysfunction and speech therapy.

The Roussy–Lévy syndrome is not a fatal disease and life expectancy is normal. However, due to progressive muscle wasting patients may need supportive orthopaedic equipment or wheelchair assistance.

Pharmacological treatment options are limited, and remain clinically unproven. Among these are the water-soluble coenzyme Q10 formulation, the prescription drug Tanakan, and combination antioxidant therapy.

- In a study performed in 2010, it was found that the water-soluble formulation of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) caused a significant improvement in liminar tonal audiometry of the air and bone thresholds at 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz, 4000 Hz, and 8000 Hz.

- Antioxidant therapy - age-related hearing loss was reduced in animal models with a combination agent comprising six antioxidant agents that target four sites within the oxidative pathway: L-cysteine-glutathione mixed disulfide, ribose-cysteine, NW-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, vitamin B12, folate, and ascorbic acid. It is thought that these supplements attenuate the decline of cochlear structure due to prolonged oxidative stress. However, more recent studies have had conflicting results. In 2012, a study was done with CBA/J female mice. They were placed on an antioxidant-rich diet for 24 months consisting of vitamins A, C, E, L-carnitine, and α-lipoic acid. While this increased the inner ear’s antioxidant capacity, the actual hearing loss was unaffected. Therefore, in this study, antioxidants were shown not to improve presbycusis mechanisms.

- The effects of the pharmaceutical drug Tanakan were observed when treating tympanophonia in elderly women. Tanakan was found to decrease the intensity of tympanitis and improve speech and hearing in aged patients, giving rise to the idea of recommending treatment with it to elderly patients with presbycusis or normal tonal hearing.

- AM-111, an otoprotective peptide, was shown in a chinchilla study to rescue and protect against hearing loss following impulse noise trauma. AM-111 acts as a cell-permeable inhibitor of JNK-mediated apoptosis. IP injections or local injections into membrane of the round window were given, and permanent threshold shifts (PTS) were measured three weeks after impulse noise exposure. AM-111 animals had significantly lower PTS, implicating AM-111 as a possible protective agent against JNK-mediated cochlear cell death and against permeant hearing deficits after noise trauma.

- The anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant substance Ebselen was observed to reduce hearing loss in a study done in 2007. . It has been previously shown that noise trauma correlates with decreases in glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, which has been linked to loss of the outer hair cells. GPx1, an isoform of GPx, is predominantly expressed in stria vascularis, cochlea, spiral ligament, organ of Corti, and spiral ganglion cells. The stria vascularis displayed significant decreases in GPx1 immunoreactivity and increased swelling following noise exposure in rats. There was also significant outer hair cell loss in the cochlea within five hours of noise exposure. Administration of Ebselen before and after the noise stimulus reduced stria vascularis swelling as well as cochlear outer hair cell loss. This implicates Ebselen as a supplement for GPx1 in the outer hair cell degradation mechanism of hearing loss. This treatment is currently in active clinical trials.

- A γ-secretase inhibitor of Notch signaling was shown to induce new hair cells and partially recover hearing loss . Auditory hair cell loss is permanent damage due to the inability of these cells to regenerate. Therefore, deafness due to this pathology is viewed as irreversible. Hair cell development is mediated by Notch signaling, which exerts lateral inhibition onto hair cells. Notch signaling in supporting hair cells leads to prevention of differentiation in surrounding hair cells. After identifying a potent γ-secretase inhibitor selective for stimulating differentiation in inner ear stem cells, it was administered in acoustically injured mice. The animals who received the injury and treatment displayed an increased hair cell number and stimulated hearing recovery. This suggests that γ-secretase inhibition of Notch signaling can be a potential pharmacological therapy in approaching what was previously viewed as permeant deafness.

Giant axonal neuropathy is a rare, autosomal recessive neurological disorder that causes disorganization of neurofilaments. Neurofilaments form a structural framework that helps to define the shape and size of neurons and are essential for normal nerve function.

There is currently no specified treatment for individuals suffering from otodental syndrome. Considering that there are many possible genetic and phenotypic associations with the condition, treatment is provided based on each individual circumstance. It is recommended that those affected seek ear, nose & throat specialists, dental health specialists, and facial oral health specialists immediately; in order to determine potential treatment options.

Common treatment methods given are:

- Dental treatment/management – which can be complex, interdisciplinary and requires a regular follow up. Tooth extraction(s)and if needed, medications may be administered for pain, anxiety, and anti-inflammation. The affected individual is usually placed on a strict and preventative dental regiment in order to maintain appropriate oral hygiene and health.

- Endodontic treatment – individuals consult with an endodontist to analyze the individuals dental pulp. Typically endodontic treatment proves to be difficult due to duplicated pulp canals within the affected teeth. There may be a need for multiple extractions as well. Dental prosthesis and/or dental implants may be necessary for individuals that lack proper oral function, appearance, and comfort.

- Orthodontic treatment – given the predicament of the size and location of the affected oral area, molars and canines, orthodontic treatment is generally required in order treat any problems associated with the individuals bite pattern and tooth appearance.

- Hearing aids – in some cases affected individuals will suffer from hearing imparities and it may be necessary for hearing aid use.

The functional prognosis is mostly good with those that suffer from otodental syndrome. Appropriate dental treatment, hearing aids, and visitation to necessary specialists are recommended. Quality of life may be affected by psychological and functional aspects. It is also recommended that genetic counseling be given to families that have or may have this condition.

Hair cell regeneration using stem cell and gene therapy is years or decades away from being clinically feasible. However, studies are currently underway on the subject, with the first FDA-approved trial beginning in February 2012.

There is no current treatment, however management of hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsy can be done via:

- Occupational therapist

- Ankle/foot orthosis

- Wrist splint (medicine)

- Avoid repetitive movements

Legius syndrome (LS) is an autosomal dominant condition characterized by cafe au lait spots. It was first described in 2007 and is often mistaken for neurofibromatosis type I (NF-1), it is caused by mutations in the SPRED1 gene, it is also known as Neurofibromatosis Type 1-like syndrome (NFLS). The condition is a RASopathy, developmental syndromes due to germline mutations in genes

King–Kopetzky syndrome is an auditory disability characterised by difficulty in hearing speech in the presence of background noise in conjunction with the finding of normal hearing test results.

It is an example of auditory processing disorder (APD) or "auditory disability with normal hearing (ADN)".

King–Kopetzky syndrome patients have a worse Social Hearing Handicap index (SHHI) than others, indicating they suffer a significant degree of speech-hearing disability.

The condition is named after Samuel J. Kopetzky, who first described the condition in 1948, and P. F. King, who first discussed the aetiological factors behind it in 1954.

DOOR (deafness, onychdystrophy, osteodystrophy, and mental retardation) syndrome is a genetic disease which is inherited in an autosomal recessive fashion. DOOR syndrome is characterized by mental retardation, sensorineural deafness, abnormal nails and phalanges of the hands and feet, and variable seizures. A similar deafness-onychodystrophy syndrome is transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait and has no mental retardation. Some authors have proposed that it may be the same as Eronen Syndrome, but since both disorders are extremely rare it is hard to make a determination.

Those diseases understood as congenital in origin could either be specific to the ocular organ system (LHON, DOA) or syndromic (MELAS, Multiple Sclerosis). It is estimated that these inherited optic neuropathies in the aggregate affect 1 in 10,000

Of the acquired category, disease falls into further etiological distinction as arising from toxic (drugs or chemicals) or nutritional/metabolic (vitamin deficiency/diabetes) insult. It is worth mentioning that under-nutrition and toxic insult can occur simultaneously, so a third category may be understood as having a combined or mixed etiology. We will refer to this as Toxic/Nutritional Optic Neuropathy, whereby nutritional deficiencies and toxic/metabolic insults are the simultaneous culprits of visual loss associated with damage and disruption of the RGC and optic nerve mitochondria.

Physical therapy is the predominant treatment of symptoms. Orthopedic shoes and foot surgery can be used to manage foot problems.

There is no pharmacological treatment for Roussy–Lévy syndrome.

Treatment options focus on palliative care and corrective therapy. Patients tend to benefit greatly from physical therapy (especially water therapy as it does not place excessive pressure on the muscles), while moderate activity is often recommended to maintain movement, flexibility, muscle strength and endurance.

Patients with foot deformities may benefit from corrective surgery, which, however, is usually a last resort. Most such surgeries include straightening and pinning the toes, lowering the arch, and sometimes, fusing the ankle joint to provide stability. Recovering from these surgeries is oftentimes long and difficult. Proper foot care including custom-made shoes and leg braces may minimize discomfort and increase function.

While no medicines are reported to treat the disorder, patients are advised to avoid certain medications as they may aggravate the symptoms.

A 2009 clinical trial at Massachusetts General Hospital used the cancer drug Bevacizumab (commercial name: Avastin) to treat 10 patients with neurofibromatosis type II. The result was published in "The New England Journal of Medicine". Of the ten patients treated with bevacizumab, tumours shrank in 9 of them, with the median best response rate of 26%. Hearing improved in some of the patients, but improvements were not strongly correlated with tumour shrinkage. Bevacizumab works by cutting the blood supply to the tumours and thus depriving them of their growth vector. Side effects during the study included alanine aminotransferase, proteinuria, and hypertension (elevated blood pressure) among others. A separate trial, published in "The Neuro-oncology Journal", show 40% tumour reduction in the two patients with NF2, along with significant hearing improvement.

Overall the researchers believed that bevacizumab showed clinically significant effects on NF-2 patients. However, more research is needed before the full effects of bevacizumab can be established in NF-2 patients.