A groundbreaking gene therapy trial has helped 10 children and young adults with congenital deafness hear for the first time in their lives—and yes, we’re tearing up too.
The patients, ranging from ages 1 to 24, were all born with a rare genetic condition caused by a faulty OTOF gene—a gene that basically blocks sound signals from reaching the brain.
So what did doctors do? They used a tiny virus to deliver a healthy copy of the gene directly into the inner ear—just one injection. Six months later, every single patient had improved hearing.
👉 The average improvement? From 106 decibels (basically near-total deafness) to 52 decibels—which is the sound of normal conversation.
One 7-year-old girl reportedly heard rainfall for the first time walking out of the doctor’s office—and could speak with her mom without reading lips.
Doctors say the therapy worked best for kids between ages 5 and 8, but all 10 saw positive results. And yes, researchers will keep following them for the next 5–10 years to track how long the effects last.
If this is what science can do now, just imagine what’s next. Shoutout to the researchers who gave 10 families a sound they’ll never forget.
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