Deafness could be treated by virus, say scientists

Scientists say they have taken a significant step towards treating some forms of deafness after restoring hearing in animals, the BBC reports. 

Defects in a baby's DNA are behind roughly half of cases of hearing loss in early life.

The mouse study, published in Science Translational Medicine, showed a virus could correct the genetic fault and restore some hearing.

Experts said the results could lead to treatments within a decade.

The team in the US and Switzerland focused on the tiny hairs inside the ear, which convert sounds into electrical signals that can be interpreted by the brain.

But mutations in our DNA can leave hairs unable to create the electrical signal - leaving people unable to hear.

The research team developed a genetically modified virus that could infect the hair cells and correct the error.

It was tested on "profoundly deaf" mice, which would not notice being at a loud rock concert (with sound levels at 115 dB).

Injections of the virus into the ears led to a "substantial improvement" in hearing, although not to normal levels.

The animals could hear the equivalent of the noise inside a moving car (85 dB).

They also altered their behaviour in response to sounds throughout the 60-day study.

Dr Jeffrey Holt, one of the researchers from Boston Children's Hospital, told the BBC News website:

"We're very excited about it, but we're also cautiously optimistic as we don't want to give false hope. It would be premature to say we've found a cure.

"But in the not-too-distant future it could become a treatment for genetic deafness so it is an important finding."

The team are not yet ready for human clinical trials.

They want to prove the effect is long-lasting. They know it works for a few months, but are aiming for a life-long change.

The viral therapy alters most of the inner hair cells in the ear, but not the outer hair cells.

The inner hairs allow you to hear sound, but the outer hairs alter the sensitivity to sounds, so the ear becomes more sensitive to faint noises.