Gene Therapy Breakthrough Restores Hearing in Deaf Patients
In a groundbreaking scientific achievement, an international team of Swedish and Chinese researchers has developed a novel gene therapy that successfully restored hearing in children and adults with congenital deafness.
The Study and Its Findings
The study, published in Nature Medicine, treated 10 patients aged 1-24 at five hospitals in China. All patients were suffering from genetic hearing loss caused by mutations in the OTOF gene. The therapy worked rapidly, with the majority of patients recovering some hearing within just one month.
A six-month follow-up showed remarkable results, with the average volume of perceptible sound improving from 106 decibels to 52 decibels. The younger patients, especially those between ages 5-8, responded best to treatment.
A Success Story
One seven-year-old girl recovered almost all her hearing and could hold daily conversations with her mother four months after treatment. The therapy proved effective in adults as well, marking the first time this method has been tested in teenagers and adults.
“This is a huge step forward in the genetic treatment of deafness, one that can be life-changing for children and adults,” said Maoli Duan from Karolinska Institutet, Sweden.