Question About the Possibility of Having Deaf Children

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ktmartell

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Hi All Deaf. This seems like a really cool community over here.

Lately I have been thinking about the possibility of me having deaf children. I am hearing and my sister is hearing, my father is hearing and there is no history of deafness in his family, but my mother and her brother are deaf.

I was wondering if anyone knows or might be able to guess the chances of me having a deaf child. I know it's probably nearly impossible to answer, but I thought I'd ask.

Also, where should I look to find an exact answer as to the chances? Would my family doctor be alright, or do I need to contact some kind of specialist?

Thanks everyone.
 
Need to go to Gallaudet University and get genetic testing or get one done by a local doctor if one is available.
 
Only way to know for sure is through genetic testing. There are genes that cause deafness; among them are the Connexin genes 26; 30. There are also syndromes that people are born with that can cause deafness such as Usher's Syndrome.

However, there are a lot more people who are deaf via aquired means. Some were born hearing but went deaf through illness; others were exposed to German measles or CMV in utero.
 
Gallaudet Genetic Center closed because of lack of funds. :(
 
whatdidyousay! said:
I was so happy my baby was not born HOH ! I was worried that I would have a HOH child.
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I think I looked like I would burst into tears when they just told me it seems my second grandchild just has a language delay from being the second child.

My older granddaughter greeted me Friday with a whole new bunch of signs she learned and her mother took me and the girls to dinner.

Not everybody would be sad if their child was deaf.
 
Bottesini said:
I think I looked like I would burst into tears when they just told me it seems my second grandchild just has a language delay from being the second child.

My older granddaughter greeted me Friday with a whole new bunch of signs she learned and her mother took me and the girls to dinner.

Not everybody would be sad if their child was deaf.
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I know my daughter is very happy that she was not born HOH! I have a very hard time understanding why any parents would want their baby to be born deaf or HOH! I have always felt this way and if I had a easier time growing up HOH I still would want my baby to able to hear! I did not say I would be sad . Do you mean you was sad because your second grandchild was not deaf or HOH?
 
ktmartell said:
Hi All Deaf. This seems like a really cool community over here.

Lately I have been thinking about the possibility of me having deaf children. I am hearing and my sister is hearing, my father is hearing and there is no history of deafness in his family, but my mother and her brother are deaf.

I was wondering if anyone knows or might be able to guess the chances of me having a deaf child. I know it's probably nearly impossible to answer, but I thought I'd ask.

Also, where should I look to find an exact answer as to the chances? Would my family doctor be alright, or do I need to contact some kind of specialist?

Thanks everyone.
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But in all seriousness -

How did your mom and her brother become deaf? If it was after birth... The chances are much less.
 
You'll want to get a referral to a genetic specialist as they are the ones that can get the tests run for you (via blood work). In Canada it's covered provided it's covered but in the USA etc I'm sure you'd have to pay for the testing etc.

The genetic testing can tell you if you carry the gene(s) that cause various types of deafness, and then once those results come back can counsel you (ie inform you) of the percentage likelyhood that you will or will not pass it/them on to a child. Of course the male you conceive a child with would also have to be tested to give a more accurate picture.

It's fairly common for couples who know they may/do carry genes which are linked to various medical conditions etc (deafness, MD, SMA, etc) to have genetic counselling.

Genetic counselling includes individual genetic testing, and then discussions with the specialists about the likelihood that a child would have/be a carrier of (a) specific condition(s), then discusses the options for proceeding with a pregnancy via natural or artificial conception means, and (in cases of life-threatening diseases) how soon testing can be done on the fetus/infant etc.

The advantage of Genetic testing is that it often give to-be-parents a few extra months to make choices, get any special supports etc in place prior to the birth, or shortly there after. While many of us see be Hoh/Deaf as a natural thing, there are serious life threatening conditions such as SMA , where the sooner you know that the child has (or in the case of fetus, will have) the disease, the more you can learn about management, care, doctors that know what they're doing (and who to avoid), and the better chance that the child will have a healthier, longer life.
 
whatdidyousay! said:
I know my daughter is very happy that she was not born HOH! I have a very hard time understanding why any parents would want their baby to be born deaf or HOH! I have always felt this way and if I had a easier time growing up HOH I still would want my baby to able to hear! I did not say I would be sad . Do you mean you was sad because your second grandchild was not deaf or HOH?
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To be very honest with you when I was pregnant with my youngest I not only hoped she would be born Deaf I also hoped she would have microtia

Why? Because I didn't know how to raise a hearing kid I was used to raising a deaf child and I was also afraid if she had 'normal' ears I would think they looked funny like I did about other peoples kids.

But I didn't I saw her as perfect just as I did my oldest. And I did find out that we needed to make a few changes like learning to be quiet when she was sleeping lol Funny thing is she cries that she wants to be deaf for a lot of reasons, she's only 5 and I am sure will grow out of it.
 
blank canvas said:
To be very honest with you when I was pregnant with my youngest I not only hoped she would be born Deaf I also hoped she would have microtia

Why? Because I didn't know how to raise a hearing kid I was used to raising a deaf child and I was also afraid if she had 'normal' ears I would think they looked funny like I did about other peoples kids.

But I didn't I saw her as perfect just as I did my oldest. And I did find out that we needed to make a few changes like learning to be quiet when she was sleeping lol Funny thing is she cries that she wants to be deaf for a lot of reasons, she's only 5 and I am sure will grow out of it.
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I can't believe you would want your baby to have microtia!
 
whatdidyousay! said:
I can't believe you would want your baby to have microtia!
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Ya I know from the outside looking in it seems bad, but my oldest daughter has it and when she was born all I saw was pure perfection and I was afraid that if my youngest didn't I wouldn't see that same perfection. When she was born I realized that I saw her as perfect too.

Its was a complicated thought that has long passed, both of my girls are amazing and flawless as far as I am concerned :)
 
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