Scientists have identified the gene responsible for age-related hearing loss. Now they hope the KCNQ4 gene discovery paves the way for drugs to prevent deafness and bring relief to the 6.5million over-60s in Britain who are affected.

Dr Ralph Holme of the Royal National Institute for the Deaf, which funded the study, said: "We are optimistic that people will no longer face the prospect of losing their hearing as they age."

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