Researchers have achieved a breakthrough in treating genetic deafness through gene therapy, restoring hearing in both children and adults. A study published in Science demonstrated that by flipping an evolutionarily disabled genetic switch involved in Vitamin A metabolism, ear tissue regeneration was enabled in mice. This advancement has translated into clinical applications where a gene therapy injection has restored hearing within a month for patients with congenital deafness, offering a less invasive alternative to cochlear implants. The therapy has been successfully applied in cases including infants, with the first baby receiving a custom gene-edited treatment at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. While the technology represents a major step forward, its patent is currently pending amid opposition from hearing aid manufacturers. This development offers hope for up to three in every 1,000 newborns affected by hearing loss in one or both ears.