Deaf-from-Birth Children to Hear with Gene Therapy
Incredible Breakthrough: 11-Year-Old Hears Voice for the First Time Thanks to Gene Therapy
A groundbreaking moment occurred on October 4, 2023, in Philadelphia, USA, as an 11-year-old child, who has been deaf in both ears from birth, underwent a revolutionary gene therapy treatment that has resulted in a significant improvement in his hearing.
The medical team at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia announced that the patient, who has been deaf since birth, has experienced an incredible progress in his hearing after receiving gene therapy in one ear. “The patient was born severely deaf in both ears. Now, four months after receiving investigational gene therapy in one ear, the patient’s hearing has improved sufficiently that he now has only mild to moderate hearing loss in the treated ear,” stated the doctors.
The most astonishing outcome of the treatment is that the patient was able to literally hear a voice for the first time in his life. He can now hear his father’s voice, the sound of a passing car, and even the sound of scissors cutting his hair. This remarkable breakthrough has given the young patient a newfound sense of sound and has opened up a world of new experiences for him.
In light of this success, doctors also stressed the importance of hearing testing in newborn babies. They emphasized that all babies should undergo hearing screening before they reach one month old, and those who fail the screening should be tested by a hearing specialist. This early detection and intervention can make a significant difference in a child’s ability to overcome hearing challenges and lead a full and healthy life.
This groundbreaking achievement in gene therapy offers hope for individuals with hereditary hearing loss and paves the way for further advancements in the field of medical treatment for deafness. The success story of the 11-year-old patient serves as a testament to the potential of gene therapy to transform the lives of those with hearing impairments.
