The removal occurs within 24 hours after death. Anyone can donate their temporal bones, however, those with hearing or balance impairments are especially welcome as their donation will provide insight into the pathophysiology of their particular impairment. There is no age limit for donation. Donated temporal bones are not used for transplantation. They are studying using a variety of techniques.
Many people benefit from temporal bone donation.
Likewise, today's generation has benefitted temporal bone research performed years ago. By studying donated temporal bones, researchers have gained new knowledge about hearing, balance, and facial nerve problems, and have developed effective new medical and surgical treatments. These are the contributing steps to solving the mysteries of hearing and balance disorders. Today's generation has benefitted, however, from temporal bone research performed years ago. If you have a hereditary hearing or balance impairment, then you may be concerned about the hearing of your children's children, and their children.