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View Full Version : Pioneering gene therapy restores UK girl's hearing


bots
09-05-2024, 06:20 AM
https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/1BCC/production/_133261170_s1meo_2q.jpg.webp

A UK girl born deaf can now hear unaided, after a groundbreaking gene-therapy treatment.

Opal Sandy was treated shortly before her first birthday - and six months on, can hear sounds as soft as a whisper and is starting to talk, saying words such as "Mama", "Dada" and "uh-oh".

Given as an infusion into the ear, the therapy replaces faulty DNA causing her type of inherited deafness.

Opal is part of a trial recruiting patients in the UK, US and Spain.

Doctors in other countries, including China, are also exploring very similar treatments for the Otof gene mutation Opal has.

Her parents, Jo and James, from Oxfordshire, say the results have been mind-blowing - but allowing Opal to be the first to test this treatment, made by Regeneron, was extremely tough.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-68921561

Mystic Mock
09-05-2024, 07:50 AM
That's an unbelievable breakthrough.

I'm happy for the kid that she'll be able to hear.

Although throughout her life she'll wish that she didn't hear certain things.:laugh:

arista
09-05-2024, 07:57 AM
Yes great news

Livia
09-05-2024, 05:05 PM
Wonderful. So nice to have something positive in the news.

Kate!
09-05-2024, 05:08 PM
Yes inspiring. So pleased for her and her family.