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This boy was born with severe hearing

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This boy was born with severe hearing
 

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This boy was born with severe hearing
loss, but 3 weeks after receiving

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loss, but 3 weeks after receiving
 

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loss, but 3 weeks after receiving
experimental gene therapy, he heard his

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experimental gene therapy, he heard his
 

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experimental gene therapy, he heard his
name for the first time.

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name for the first time.
 

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name for the first time.
Then music.

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Then music.
 

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Then music.
>> [music]

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>> [music]
 

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>> [music]
>> And months later, he learned to speak.

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>> And months later, he learned to speak.
 

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>> And months later, he learned to speak.
The significance of this really cannot

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The significance of this really cannot
 

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The significance of this really cannot
be underestimated. This is a result of a

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be underestimated. This is a result of a
 

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be underestimated. This is a result of a
clinical trial carried out by

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clinical trial carried out by
 

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clinical trial carried out by
researchers at Harvard Medical School

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researchers at Harvard Medical School
 

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researchers at Harvard Medical School
and Fudan University in Shanghai. The

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and Fudan University in Shanghai. The
 

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and Fudan University in Shanghai. The
boy is one of 42 participants aged 8

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boy is one of 42 participants aged 8
 

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boy is one of 42 participants aged 8
months to 32 years old with genetic

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months to 32 years old with genetic
 

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months to 32 years old with genetic
hearing loss caused by mutation to the

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hearing loss caused by mutation to the
 

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hearing loss caused by mutation to the
gene otoferlin. Participants received a

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gene otoferlin. Participants received a
 

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gene otoferlin. Participants received a
single injection into the inner ear

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single injection into the inner ear
 

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single injection into the inner ear
replacing that gene that allows sound

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replacing that gene that allows sound
 

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replacing that gene that allows sound
signals to reach the brain. Researchers

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signals to reach the brain. Researchers
 

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signals to reach the brain. Researchers
say hearing improved in 90% of

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say hearing improved in 90% of
 

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say hearing improved in 90% of
participants to varying degrees, though

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participants to varying degrees, though
 

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participants to varying degrees, though
more effective in the children. So far

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more effective in the children. So far
 

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more effective in the children. So far
the data really strongly support the

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the data really strongly support the
 

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the data really strongly support the
earliest treatment with better outcome.

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earliest treatment with better outcome.
 

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earliest treatment with better outcome.
And that toddler we showed you, he's now

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And that toddler we showed you, he's now
 

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And that toddler we showed you, he's now
four and tells us he loves toy cars.

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four and tells us he loves toy cars.
 

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four and tells us he loves toy cars.
He's getting better and better. He's

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He's getting better and better. He's
 

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He's getting better and better. He's
attending regular school now. He is no

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attending regular school now. He is no
 

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attending regular school now. He is no
different from other kids. You have to

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different from other kids. You have to
 

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different from other kids. You have to
be implanted within

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be implanted within
 

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be implanted within
>> Professor Robert Harrison has spent

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>> Professor Robert Harrison has spent
 

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>> Professor Robert Harrison has spent
decades researching and treating hearing

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decades researching and treating hearing
 

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decades researching and treating hearing
loss and he's cautiously optimistic.

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loss and he's cautiously optimistic.
 

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loss and he's cautiously optimistic.
There are some limitations. Not

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There are some limitations. Not
 

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There are some limitations. Not
everybody benefits. What we have here is

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everybody benefits. What we have here is
 

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everybody benefits. What we have here is
a possible cure for a very rare

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a possible cure for a very rare
 

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a possible cure for a very rare
genetic caused uh congenital hearing

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genetic caused uh congenital hearing
 

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genetic caused uh congenital hearing
loss.

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loss.
 

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loss.
And for members of the deaf community,

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And for members of the deaf community,
 

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And for members of the deaf community,
not everyone wants a cure. I get the

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not everyone wants a cure. I get the
 

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not everyone wants a cure. I get the
appeal of it.

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appeal of it.
 

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appeal of it.
Like, yay, you know, it's nice. You

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Like, yay, you know, it's nice. You
 

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Like, yay, you know, it's nice. You
know, things are coming along. But on

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know, things are coming along. But on
 

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know, things are coming along. But on
the other side, it feels like we are

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the other side, it feels like we are
 

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the other side, it feels like we are
being erased.

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being erased.
 

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being erased.
And

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And
 

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And
I love being in a deaf world.

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I love being in a deaf world.
 

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I love being in a deaf world.
Researchers followed the participants

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Researchers followed the participants
 

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Researchers followed the participants
for 2 and 1/2 years after they received

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for 2 and 1/2 years after they received
 

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for 2 and 1/2 years after they received
the gene therapy and say the results

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the gene therapy and say the results
 

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the gene therapy and say the results
held up, but they hope it will last a

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held up, but they hope it will last a
 

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held up, but they hope it will last a
lifetime. Tashauna Reed, CBC News,

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lifetime. Tashauna Reed, CBC News,
 

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lifetime. Tashauna Reed, CBC News,
Toronto.