For the first time, gene therapy has restored hearing in teenagers and adults with congenital deafness. Earlier studies partially restored hearing in animals and in some babies up to one year old. This landmark trial, however, is the first to show that the approach can be effective across a broader age group.
The study involved 10 participants aged 18 months to 23 years with DFNB9 deafness. Researchers delivered the corrected OTOF gene using a modified virus directly into the hair cells of the inner ear, restoring the transmission of sound signals. Within one month, all participants’ hearing improved to a level where they could hear speech and the sounds needed for communication and spatial orientation. The most noticeable results were seen in children aged 5–8, but adolescents and adults also experienced a significant improvement. The method showed high safety, and a repeat injection in one participant confirmed that the course could be safely repeated to strengthen the effect.
For families in which genetic deafness was considered a lifelong diagnosis, this news offers a sign of hope: hearing can be restored even in the teen and adult years.
