In the management of sensorineural hearing loss, effective therapy for degenerated hair cells, third order neurons, ganglions, dendrites and synaptic areas of the vestibulo-cochleo-cerebral pathway remains an enigma. Transplantation of stem and progenitor cells appears to be an emerging potential solution, and is the focus of this review.

To review recent developments in the management of sensorineural hearing loss in the field of stem cell research.

A systematic review of the English language literature included all experimental and non-experimental studies with a Jadad score of three or more, published between 2000 and 2010 and included in the following databases: Cochrane Library Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders; Medline; Google Scholar; Hinari; and the Online Library of Toronto University.

Of the 455 and 29 600 articles identified from Medline and Google Scholar, respectively, 48 met the inclusion criteria. These were independently reviewed and jointly analysed.

Although there is not yet any evidence from successful human studies, stem cell and ‘alternative stem cell’ technology seems to represent the future of sensorineural hearing loss management.