大象传媒

Opal Sandy, who鈥檚 18 months old, is the first person ever to get a new type of gene therapy. More than half of hearing loss cases in children have genetic causes. Opal鈥檚 is due to DNA she inherited, meaning she was born deaf.

Shortly before her first birthday, doctors at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge, gave her the pioneering treatment. And now six months on, she can hear sounds as soft as a whisper and is starting to talk. Doctors in other countries, including China, have also started exploring very similar treatments.

It's early days, but experts say the potential for this new medical field is huge. In this episode of our 5 Minutes On podcast, heath reporter Michelle Roberts meets Opal and her family, as they get to grips with a new way of life.