Children begin to hear: gene therapy restores hearing
In the United States, children with congenital deafness regained their hearing through gene therapy. How does it work and what lies ahead?
In the United States, children with congenital deafness regained their hearing through gene therapy. How does it work and what lies ahead?
Recently in the United States, gene therapy was successfully applied for the first time to treat congenital deafness in children. The results are striking: five out of six young patients began to hear sounds, and some are already learning to pronounce their first words.
The treatment is based on delivering a corrected copy of the OTOF gene, which is responsible for transmitting sound signals from the inner ear to the brain. When this gene is mutated, a child is born completely deaf. Scientists use a harmless virus as a carrier to introduce the corrected gene directly into the auditory apparatus.
Until now, children with complete deafness could only be helped by hearing aids or cochlear implants, but these are not always effective. Gene therapy makes it possible to restore the natural ability to hear. And this changes everything: speech development, socialization, quality of life.
At the current stage, the therapy is undergoing clinical trials in the United States and China. However, the pace of biomedical advancement is rapid, and such technologies may also appear here — through international cooperation programs and scientific projects.
At Horev Medical clinic we closely follow the development of advanced medical technologies and counsel patients on hearing, hearing tests and the treatment of deafness.
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