Quote:
Originally Posted by rockdrummer
could be a reality. What about stem cell therapy or even transplants or cloning. All feasable "cures"
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Not so fast. That's not a cure for every cause of deafness; only the ones that are caused by a genetic mutation.
It's also still a ways off. I'm not buying into the idea that it's right on the horizen. I seriously doubt that it is.
With stem cell therapy and transplatation comes significant risks, also. Think about it. Would you subject your son to intense chemotherapy and radiation so your son could be transplanted or be given stem cells, because, that's what would have to happen. You would have to basically knock out the person's existing immune system, and infuse the stem cells and HOPE they graft. With a transplant, you'd have to give the person immuno-suppressives which they'd have to take for life to prevent rejection of the transplanted cochlea.
Sounds like a hell of a risk to take to restore one's hearing; especially for a child.