The Otopathology Laboratory at the University of Minnesota
sponsored by the International Hearing Foundation (IHF)

A Great Resource and a Great Service to Society

Ear diseases are significantly involved in human communication problems which are representative of many diseases and problems throughout the United States and the world. For example, almost every child has had ear infection. Ten percent of children have chronic ear infection resulting in hearing loss and other problems. Ten percent, or approximately 30 million Americans have a significant hearing loss or deafness; 90 million Americans have dizziness, while 30 to 40 million Americans have tinnitus. There are literally hundreds of diseases that can affect the ear, which can cause disability, and indeed in many cases complications including death.

Human communication is a most precious asset of man, and perhaps the most important sensory function that separates man from animals. Helen Keller, as we know, was both blind and deaf. It is interesting that she considered her deafness to be the greatest of her disabilities.

The importance of pathology cannot be underestimated. Every specialty of medicine has pathology as its basis. Whether it is tissue removal from surgery or frozen biopsy, or of course, post mortem autopsy studies, this is the way we learn what the disease really is, and this is the only way in which we can better diagnose and treat that disease in living patients. Whereas pathology is the backbone of medicine and is representative in every hospital in the country, it is not taught in any pathology residency problem. Over the years it has been left in the realm of research. It is very costly to acquire a human temporal bone specimen subsequent to death. It is very costly to process it and study it from a scientific point of view. Nevertheless this is the only way in which we can understand diseases and develop ways in which to diagnose and treat them.

What has the otopathology laboratory done in the past and what can it do in the future?

The otopathology Laboratory has in the past made major contributions which have resulted in many new ways of identifying and diagnosing disease, and in fact, discovering new diseases that patients have. Methods of treating these diseases including medical and surgical approaches have evolved from this important knowledge.

In addition, research has been very productive in the laboratory and many hundreds, if not thousands, of scientific publications in preferred medical journals have resulted from this laboratory.

The laboratory has been valuable for training specialists from the United States and doctors from throughout the world. It has been a facility which has allowed several hundred specialists to train in the facility, many of whom have become leaders in the profession - such as 28 professors and chairmen of ear, nose and throat throughout the world.

What can I do to help?

Of course there is a great need for financial support, so if you are interested in learning more about the laboratory and possibly making a donation, please call 612-339-2120.

If you have an ear problem, you may wish to contribute your temporal bones after death. This is a very aesthetic process. The bones then go to the laboratory and in a very elegant way lead to new knowledge to help many others who have deafness and other ear diseases.