Gene therapy trial gives deaf children hearing in both ears

https://www.theguardian.com/science/article/2024/jun/05/gene-therapy-trial-restores-hearing-in-both-ears-for-deaf-children

Study participants born unable to hear could locate sound sources, recognise speech and dance to music after treatment

Study: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-03023-5

Archived version: https://archive.ph/LlaXZ

68 points · 7 comments · view on lemmy.world

7 Comments

cm0002@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 2y (5 replies)

Uh oh, a certain segment of the dead community is gonna be pissed about this

Edit: DEAF community lol

Lommy241@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 2y (1 reply)

Deaf. The dead community don't care

Zirconium@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 2y

You asked them?

JackGreenEarth@lemm.ee · 1 pts · 2y (2 replies)

That people have the choice to gain an extra sense that is used in so many situations? Yeah, so terrible, I know /s

cm0002@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 2y (1 reply)

Within the deaf community there is a not insignificant group who do see treatments like these as an affront to their community. That there's no need for treatments because "there's nothing to fix/treat" and they have absolutely advocated that deaf children (especially born to deaf parents) should remain deaf.

To be clear, I'm absolutely in favor of these treatments.

JackGreenEarth@lemm.ee · 2 pts · 2y

It's child abuse to keep a child deaf when you can make them hear. Forcing them to miss out on music, group activities, so much they would lose.

JackGreenEarth@lemm.ee · 2 pts · 2y

That's great news!