--- title: "Scientists Successfully Reverse Hearing Loss in Mice" description: "By activating a defective gene in mice, the researchers were able to restore their hearing to almost normal levels." date: "2023-08-11" modified: "2023-08-11" authors: - name: "Frank Landymore" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/flandymore" url: "https://futurism.com/neoscope/scientists-reverse-hearing-loss-mice" categories: - "Gene Editing" - "Genetics" - "Health & Medicine" tags: - "deafness" - "hearing loss" - "restore hearing loss" --- # Scientists Successfully Reverse Hearing Loss in Mice ![By activating a defective gene in mice, the researchers were able to restore their hearing to almost normal levels.]() *\Image: Getty / Futurism\* Scientists say they've successfully reversed [hearing loss]() in mice, suggesting that certain forms of deafness caused by faulty genetic activity could not only be avoided, but outright reversed in humans, too. As detailed in a [study]() published in the journal *Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences*, the researchers were able to restore the hearing of some mice in the low to mid-frequency ranges to near normal levels. "Degenerative diseases such as progressive hearing loss are often believed to be irreversible, but we have shown that at least one type of inner ear dysfunction can be reversed," said study author Karen Steel, a professor of sensory function at King's College London, in a [statement](). Most treatments for hearing loss such as hearing aids and cochlear implants, the researchers said, do not actually restore hearing or prevent it from worsening. "Seeing the once-deaf mice respond to sounds after treatment was truly thrilling," said study lead author Elisa Martelletti, a professor at King's College, in the statement. "It was a pivotal moment, demonstrating the tangible potential to reverse hearing loss caused by defective genes." The researchers made their breakthrough by focusing on a gene called *Spns2*. In the study, mice bred with defective *Spns2* genes showed rapidly worsening hearing loss, implicating its role in the condition. Using a specialized enzyme, the researchers essentially reactivated these dud genes in the mice at different ages, and then evaluated the rodents' hearing using what's known as an auditory brainstem response test. Young mice, they found, had their hearing loss almost completely reversed once the gene was activated. However, the older a mouse was when it received the treatment, the less hearing it regained. And, past a certain age, the treatment was not effective at restoring hearing above 18 kHz — a pretty high frequency, to be fair. Furthermore, the researchers found that by activating the *Spns2* gene early on, the treatment also protected the cells of sensory hairs — which are essential for hearing — from future degeneration. In effect: a true and long-lasting reversal, that crucially must be administered at as young an age as possible for the best results. It's worth noting, however, that this treatment was only effective at reversing hearing loss caused by this form of reduced gene activity, but the researchers believe their genetic approach will prove useful at reversing other diseases, not just deafness. **More on hearing:** *[Scientists May Have Figured Out How to Regenerate Lost Hearing]()* ## Author At Futurism, my work has often centered on bringing a sense of clarity and insight to complex topics ranging from the regulation of emerging technologies to the esoteric ideologies of Silicon Valley executives, while striving not to lose the poetic sense of awe inspired by often-obscure fields like astrophysics and quantum computing. I broke the story of CNET using AI to produce articles that turned out to be riddled with factual errors and plagiarism — a dam-breaking inflection point, as I've reported, that's inspired copycats and endless discourse while beguiling stakeholders ranging from tech giants to purveyors of spam around the web. My work at Futurism has been cited by publications including CBS News, the Los Angeles Times, Vice, Gizmodo, Engadget, the Verge, and Vanity Fair. I grew up in locales ranging from India to China, and now live in the exotic suburbs of Virginia. In my free time, I'm an avid reader of weird sci-fi literature, an aficionado of East Asian cinema, and, regrettably, a relapsed gamer. Allegedly, I’m working on a debut novel, currently untitled. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()