In more than two thirds of cases, severe or profound deafness is of genetic origin.
It was in 1995, at the Institut Pasteur in Paris, that the first gene responsible for deafness was isolated.
Since then, more than a hundred genetic alterations associated with as many distinct forms of hearing damage have been identified.
These affect the cochlea, and more specifically the hair cells, or the auditory nerve.
To discover
OUR FILE - Tobacco: how to get out of it?
These discoveries have revolutionized hearing research and paved the way for the development of therapies to repair the inner ear, foremost among which is gene therapy, which consists of injecting a functional version of the missing or altered gene directly into cells.
Read alsoDeafness: the cochlear implant, a hearing revolution
“Among the avenues explored, the most advanced work relates to DFNB9 deafness caused by the absence of a protein, called otoferlin, essential for sound transmission in the auditory nerve. This rare congenital deafness concerns approximately 5% of deaf subjects”
, indicates…
This article is for subscribers only.
You have 79% left to discover.
Black-Friday
-70% on digital subscription
I ENJOY IT
Already subscribed?
Login