Special Session: Gene TherapyAudiologists’ Perspectives on Gene Therapy for Hearing Loss Gene therapy has shown potential in recent clinical trials to improve auditory function for people with specific genetic types of hearing loss. Audiologists will play a pivotal role in supporting \gene therapy recipients through the entire treatment process from pre-candidacy evaluations through post-treatment outcomes evaluation and counselling. Diagnostic hearing and balance assessments conducted by audiologists will help to establish candidacy and weigh gene therapy options against existing treatment options for hearing loss. Audiologists will assess auditory and vestibular function following administration of gene therapy and provide informational and support counselling to recipients and their families throughout the process. The potential risks of gene therapy and how audiologists can help to minimize those risks are also considered. Audiologists are well-positioned in terms of their expertise and training to serve an important role as the number of gene therapies for hearing loss increases over the next few years.
Ryan McCreery is the Vice President of Research at Boys Town National Research Hospital where he provides leadership for more than 40 laboratories across four centers of excellent in hearing, language, pediatric behavioral health, and cognitive neuroscience. Ryan’s own research seeks to optimize outcomes for children who use hearing aids.
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