Revolutionizing Childhood Hearing Loss Treatment with Genetic Therapy

Recently, there have been headlines in the news including, “Gene Therapy Restores Hearing” or “Gene Therapy Allows Child to Hear for First Time.” This is an important scientific breakthrough that has a lot of potential for the future of hearing healthcare.

But what does this mean for parents of children with hearing loss today? What do genetic therapies mean for the future of hearing loss?

In this video, Dr. Teresa Caraway PhD, CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert. AVT CEO, Hearing First and Dr. Jace Wolfe, PhD, CCC-A, Pediatric Audiologist offer parent-friendly explanations of the latest scientific advancements in gene therapy for children with hearing loss! They explain how the therapy works on a rare type of genetic hearing loss caused by an otoferlin gene mutation.

Inside, you’ll find answers to some of the most common questions, including:

1️⃣ What is gene therapy?
2️⃣ What do these developments mean for a baby with hearing loss?
3️⃣ What is the role of genetics in a baby’s hearing healthcare?

Whether you’re curious about genetic therapy, interested in how this impacts your child with hearing loss, or an industry professional seeking more information, this video highlights this scientific breakthrough and what it may mean for the future of pediatric hearing loss.

Subscribe to the Hearing First channel for more informative content on childhood hearing loss and innovation today.

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[EvaLou]

About 10 months ago an 11 year old boy received the OTOF gene therapy and his hearing was restored it’s true… I’ve been researching this case as my 8 week old son was just diagnosed with severe hearing loss in his left ear (Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder) this other little boy was born with a genetic condition which caused his hearing loss, not trauma (it’s possible my son’s case is genetic as well but more testing is needed). As I understand it, with most congenital hearing loss the outer cochlear hairs, cochlear itself, or cochlear nerve is not present, underdeveloped, or abnormal in some way.

For my son specifically auditory neuropathy is a more rare form of hearing loss and has to do with the nerves that connect the cochlear to the brain. I was told by a doctor that in his case, if it does happen to be genetic, it’s usually the OTOF gene that is responsible and that that specific gene is actually being used in this study/clinical trials. A MRI needs to be done to see the structure of his inner ear as well as more testing but his ABR results were reflective of ANSD.

NOW… I THINK this boy might have been born with the same rare form of hearing loss my son was born with. Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder. I think the audiologist mentioned that only like 10% of all congenital forms of hearing loss is ANSD. From that 10% about half of people with it have it based on genetics. But ANSD is weird because even though it is defined as having to do with the signal from the cochlear nerve to the brain it can (and often does) present with structural issues as well, regardless of if there is a genetic reason for it or not. A VERY FEW people with ANSD are born with all the anatomical inner ear parts fully developed and in tact, including the cochlear nerve… but the OTOF mutation is causing the signal from the cochlear to the brain to get “scrambled”. I think this is where gene therapy comes in.

if I’m correct, as exciting as this medical innovation is… it really can only help a very few people. Most people with hearing loss, even the rare ANSD like my son have underdeveloped or missing/damaged inner ear parts. And we currently cannot regenerate them.

[ramut]

Hello Doctor, my baby is suffering hearing loss.cause doctor said its genes problem what should I do now

[marrisureshbabu]

Iam very loss hearing .my age 38.please clarify suported me gene therapy ?

[SunitaLandge-tk]

Mera baby dhai saal ka hai 95 hearing loss hai kya aapke pass treatment ho sakti hai

[ravianyonevlogs]

Hello Doctor, my sisters baby girl has hearing loss in india .baby girl is 8 months old doctor suggested for cochlear implant I need your suggestions ma’am

[SunitaLandge-tk]

Kya yah therapy India mein Di ja rahi hai

[SunitaLandge-tk]

Kya yah gene therapy hearing loss ke liye India mein kab tak aaegi

[israelblanco]

I lost my hearing on my right ear when I was 3 or so now I’m 39 . Would love to get my right ear to rehear

[SunitaLandge-tk]

India mein kab tak a sakti hai Jain therapy please hamen bataiye meri request hai aapko please hamen bataiye