Hearing gene therapy: The breakthrough that can cure deafness

• Author:
• Author name

  Quantumrun Foresight
• June 16, 2022

Insight summary

Gene editing, notably via CRISPR technology, presents a potential pathway to address health conditions, including hearing impairments, but treads a delicate line in ethical terms especially when applied to human embryos. The technology could shift the narrative on 'normal' human abilities and pose moral dilemmas around curing non-life-threatening disabilities like deafness. As the medical landscape adapts to such advancements, conversations among governments, healthcare providers, and the public may need to evolve to ensure ethical boundaries are respected while exploring the potential benefits of gene-editing technologies.

Hearing gene therapy context

Since the introduction of CRISPR technology in the early 2000s, gene-editing has become increasingly affordable, accessible, and most importantly, effective at addressing various health conditions. However, as this innovation continues to advance, some doctors and scientists are beginning to ask whether gene editing be allowed to remove natural disabilities such as deafness? In 2020, Russian biologist Denis Rebrekov announced that he would use CRISPR technology to edit human embryos guaranteed to inherit deafness-related genetic mutations from their parents. Rebrekov said at the time that five couples had already agreed to subject their embryos to hearing gene therapy. 

CRISPR is a gene-editing technology that uses an enzyme called Cas9, which acts like scissors, cutting off unwanted DNA in a genome sequence. A piece of RNA called guide RNA (gRNA) is then released to guide the Cas9 to the correct genome. The use of CRISPR on reproductive cells is highly controversial because any genetic edits can be passed on through generations. Some industry stakeholders, medical professionals, and philosophers have further posed the question if non-life-threatening disabilities like deafness should be “cured” in the first place due to moral considerations.  

Hearing-associated gene therapy clinical trials on mice have been promising. In a study conducted by scientists from Harvard Medical School and Tel-Aviv University, a virus was used to release genetically modified information (specifically, a healthy copy of the TMC1, the gene that’s usually the cause of deafness when mutated) in the inner ear of hearing-impaired mice. The mice exhibited improved hearing within the next six months (almost as well as non-deaf mice). 

Disruptive impact

When it comes to gene editing, especially in the context of human embryos, there is a broad spectrum of ethical, moral, and practical implications that come into play. Nations may find themselves drawing boundaries around the usage of this technology, limiting its application to severe medical conditions where no alternative treatments are available. This is a measure to prevent the escalation towards a scenario where gene editing is used for non-medical enhancements, leading to the creation of so-called "designer babies" where genetic attributes are selected or altered for aesthetics or enhanced abilities.

The concept of editing genes to correct hearing-related conditions presents a unique intersection of medical science and ethics. If therapies centered around CRISPR technology become viable and accessible, they could significantly change the landscape of industries focused on hearing-related research and treatment. Over time, as gene-editing solutions become more prevalent, traditional methods of treating hearing conditions may become less common, leading to a contraction of these industries into more specialized niches. This shift could redirect resources and investments towards developing and refining gene-editing techniques further, which might bring about new opportunities for tackling a wide range of other medical conditions as well.

On a broader scale, the acceptance and integration of gene-editing technologies like CRISPR into healthcare systems could change societal perceptions and standards surrounding natural human abilities and the ethical boundaries of medical science. The narrative of what constitutes a 'normal' or 'healthy' human being may undergo substantial re-evaluation, impacting legal, ethical, and social frameworks. Governments, healthcare providers, and the public may need to engage in thorough dialogues to navigate the complex moral landscape that gene editing presents, ensuring a balanced approach that maximizes benefits while minimizing potential harm. 

Implications for CRISPR technologies applied to hearing impairment

Wider implications of applying CRISPR therapies to treat patients’ hearing may include:

• Governments creating standardized regulations on when gene therapies can be used, especially if applied before birth.


• Greater public pressure on governments to fully cover treatments that cure various forms of hearing impairments.


• Companies in the live entertainment and construction industries (among others) increasingly including hearing therapies in their worker health plans.


• Activist organizations arising that may seek to make access to gene-editing technologies a universal right due to the possible benefits for society.


• People with hearing disabilities choosing to receive gene therapy instead of invasive operations such as cochlear implants. (Alternatively, some members of the deaf community may resist these innovations in favor of maintaining established cultural norms that favor deafness.)


• Population-scale improvements in economic productivity as less of the population suffers from partial to complete hearing loss.

Questions to consider

• If given the option to use CRISPR-based hearing treatments, would you use it? 


• What industries or professions would benefit the most from their workers gaining access to novel and effective hearing therapies?