It is considered one of the most important achievements in the world. When a young Englishman who was born deaf Treated with innovative gene therapy, the latest innovation pioneering a new way to treat hearing impairment. Instead of using hearing aids like in the past, Opal Sandy, an almost 1-year-old British girl, is that lucky person. After receiving treatment With innovative gene therapy for 6 months, in addition to being able to hear voices clearly, she She is also beginning to learn to speak words. For example, calling your parents “Mama” and “Dada” and also using the exclamation “Ooh” in this treatment. The doctor dropped a solution into Opal’s ear. This allows the ingredients in the medicine to replace damaged genetic material or DNA. The cause of her hearing impairment is genetics. Opal is one of a group of patients from the United States. The United Kingdom and Spain have been selected to participate in trials of the gene therapy technique. In addition to these three countries There are also medical teams in many other regions around the world. Including a team of Chinese doctors who are studying and experimenting with similar techniques. To correct the mutation in the Otof gene, which is the cause of congenital hearing impairment. Little Opal’s parents said: The results of the treatment were amazing. It was their decision to allow the baby to be the first test subject. This treatment method is a very difficult decision. “Nora,” Opal’s older sister, who is 5 years old, also has the same hearing disability. But she can adjust to living a normal life well. After undergoing surgery to implant an electrical device or cochlea implant in the inner ear, which is a treatment that increases the efficiency of “Sensory perception” of hearing by stimulating sound-receiving neurons that communicate directly with the brain Until the nerve impulse can travel around the damaged hair cells. It normally functions as a sound receiver in the cochlea-shaped structure of the inner ear. However, the gene therapy technique used to treat opal is completely different. This is due to the use of viruses that have been modified until they are harmless. It is a carrier of genetic units or Otof genes that function normally. into the auditory nerve cells of deaf people Little Opal received gene therapy in her right ear. She was given general anesthesia and had a cochlear implant surgically implanted in her left ear. A few weeks later She began to hear rather loud sounds like clapping. With his right ear genetically treated, Professor Manohar Bance, cochlear surgeon and lead researcher, said it was amazing to see the little boy begin to respond to sounds. It was an extremely joyful moment. Experts hope that This gene therapy technique can also be used to treat other types of hearing disabilities. Especially with severe disabilities, Prof. Banz said. More than half of children’s deafness is caused by a genetic defect. It is hoped that his experiments will lead to the development of new gene therapy techniques. It can be used to treat hearing impairment due to causes found in most people. Our hope is We can use gene therapy in young children to a degree that actually restores their hearing. without using cochlear implants or other technology Who will have to change to new equipment to help anymore. Hearing disability caused by the Otof gene mutation is It cannot be easily detected before the age of 2-3 years, causing a high risk that the child will not speak or will begin to speak abnormally slowly. However, The National Health Service or NHS of the United Kingdom Open to children in families with a history of risk. to be able to undergo genetic testing to test for this disability which Dr. Bance said The earlier we can restore our hearing, the better. It’s even better for children with hearing loss. This is because the brain will begin to stop developing flexibility (plasticity) or turn off its ability to adapt. From about 3 years after this success, Opal’s experiences were presented. and other sets of scientific data obtained from this experiment At the meeting of the American Society for Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) in Baltimore, USA. Mr. Martin McLean from the National Deaf Children’s Association praised him. They are delighted for new alternative technologies. that will be further developed in the future And it is considered another great success in treating hereditary deafness in this decade. Click to read more about the “Smart Life” column.
