What is autosomal dominant deafness?
This is the hereditary type of deafness where parents can usually see it being handed on from one generation to the next. Fig.1 is an example of a family where deafness has been inherited with a dominant pattern. Grandparent Jack is moderately deaf. Of his children, Peter and Sue are moderately deaf, and in the third generation, Tom and Kerry have moderate deafness. For a deaf person with dominant deafness there is usually a one-in-two chance he or she will hand this on to any child. This chance is the same for every pregnancy. Parents with dominant deafness usually have their children?s hearing tested as young babies. Then hearing aids can be fitted early if needed and this helps children with language development. Without the hearing aids a child with deafness may not learn to speak.
