Scientists believe they are on the brink of a cure for congenital deafness.
Researchers have produced stem cells to correct the hereditary defect. They have found a way of growing human cochlear cells which can be used to replace faulty ones in people deaf from birth due to a genetic error.
Professor Kazusaku Kamiya, a specialist in ear diseases who is leading the research…said: “I am very excited by what we have done…It is possible a therapy could be available within five to 10 years.”
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Hereditary hearing loss is often caused by a genetic mutation in the hair cells of the ear, which are found in the inner ear, or cochlea, and are the sensory receptors of sound.
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Patients with this condition are currently treated with an artificial cochlear implant, which helps transfer sound to the patient’s hearing nerves.
Many scientists believe stem cells could offer a better solution by restoring the normal function of the hair cells and, as a result, the patient’s hearing.
The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion, and analysis. Read full, original post: Scientists believe they have found a cure for deafness by replacing faulty cells in the human ear
