After the groundbreaking gene therapy treatment, a UK girl, Opal Sandy, who was born deaf, can now hear without any assistance.
According to Sky News, the 18-month-old is the first person nationwide to take part in a new gene therapy trial.
Opal was born completely deaf due to auditory neuropathy, which disrupts nerve impulses from the inner ear to the brain.
She was treated at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge under the supervision of Professor Manohar Bance, who is also the head of the trial.
Bance said, “We have results from (Opal) which are very spectacular - so close to normal hearing restoration. So we do hope it could be a potential cure.”
After the treatment, Opal's hearing is now almost normal.
As per Opal’s mother, Mrs Sandy, “We were told she had a near normal hearing last time," she added. "I think they got responses at sort of 25 to 30 decibels.”
She noted, "I think normal hearing is classed at 20 decibels, so she's not far off. Before, she had no hearing whatsoever.”
Prof. Bance, while explaining the treatment, said, “We have to make a release hole in another part of the ear to let the treatment out because it has to go all the way through the ear.”
“And then we just repair and close up, so it's actually a very similar approach to a cochlear implant, except we don't put the implant in.” Bance further added.
Additionally, the trial has three parts. In the first part three children along with Opal are getting low dose in one ear.
In the second part another three children will get high dose in one year and if it will be found safe then the third set of children will get a dose on both ears at the same time.
