Gene Therapy in Hearing Loss Treatment: A Review

Background Hearing loss, which is highly heterogeneous, is the most common sensorineural disorder in humans. More than 50% of the causes of deafness are attributed to genetic factors. Numerous studies have shown the persistent negative impact of deafness on communication and quality of life. Therefore, action to optimize performance and maintain or improve hearing ability seems necessary. In so doing, interventions are performed after assessing hearing loss. The most important intervention is gene therapy; For several genetic diseases, gene therapy is a potential treatment that is being investigated. Gene therapy will restore the ability to hear by overcoming functional defects caused by genetic mutations. Furthermore, gene therapy might potentially be used to trigger the regeneration of hair cells by transferring genes required in the cochlea for hair cell differentiation. Aim: We review recent research about hereditary hearing loss and technologies in animal. Methods: In this study, we review current reports in clarifying genomics of hereditary hearing loss and technologies between 2014 and 2020 in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar to create a gene therapy that may soon become a treatment choice. We also discuss recent research applied to animal models of hearing loss by gene therapy. Conclusion: Gene therapy allows for the treatment of sensorineural hearing loss by restoring and/or preserving the inner ear cells functioning. Hopeful results from recent research have contributed to cochlear gene therapies being created for end-use in patients.