Scientists have found a way to restore hearing in deaf patients

An international team of scientists from the Karolinska Institute and Chinese universities has successfully conducted the first gene therapy trial for treating congenital deafness and severe hearing impairments in children and adults. The work was published in the journal Nature Medicine.

The study involved 10 patients aged 1 to 24 years with a mutation in the OTOF gene, which leads to disruption in the transmission of sound signals to the brain.

As part of the therapy, scientists used a synthetic virus to deliver a copy of the OTOF gene to the cochlea of the ear through the round window membrane. Just one month after administration, patients began to perceive sounds, and after six months, hearing significantly improved in all participants. The average level of audible sound decreased from 106 to 52 decibels, with children aged 5-8 years showing the best results - some were able to begin full communication with their families after 4 months.

The researchers did not record any serious side effects. The scientists note that this is the first successful trial of the method not only in children but also in adolescents and adults with this form of hereditary deafness.

"This is a huge step forward that can change patients' lives. We have already begun work on genes that cause more common types of deafness, such as GJB2 and TMC1," emphasized Maoli Duan, the lead researcher.