Deaf children?

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lmkbrh904

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I have a question. What do you think the chance of me and my boyfriend having deaf children? Both his parents are deaf...one from a childhood disease and the other from genetics. His brother is also deaf. (Genetics). He's the only hearing one in his family. My brother was born deaf but we can't figure out why. No one else in my family is deaf. Anybody have any idea?
 
Dunno....you'd probaly have to consult a geneticist for an answer to that.
I do know that passing on a genetic thing is very low....but I guess it depends on the syndrome and everything. Me, I have a 50% chance of having dhh kids!
Why do you want to know? Do you really really want dhh kids? If so, you might want to look into adoption. A lot of dhh kids are wicked hard to place b/c of their special needs.
 
lmkbrh904 said:
I have a question. What do you think the chance of me and my boyfriend having deaf children? Both his parents are deaf...one from a childhood disease and the other from genetics. His brother is also deaf. (Genetics). He's the only hearing one in his family. My brother was born deaf but we can't figure out why. No one else in my family is deaf. Anybody have any idea?
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Okay, let's do the math...

Both of your boyfriend's parents are deaf. One is from a childhood disease so that would technically mean that he/she is hearing. The other is from birth. That would technically mean that he/she is deaf. As a result, the chances of them having deaf children would be 50/50. Since your boyfriend got the hearing part, he's probably got the deaf gene... therefore, anything from him would be 50/50. With you and your boyfriend together, your boyfriend's part would probably be 1/4 deaf and 1/4 hearing. You haven't mentioned if you're deaf or hearing. If you're deaf, you haven't mentioned whether you were born deaf or born hearing.

If you are deaf and it's from birth, that would likely make you technically deaf. Since you are half of the couple, that makes you 1/2 of the whole. Take 1/2 deaf, 1/4 deaf, and 1/4 hearing... that makes 3/4 deaf and 1/4 hearing. As a result, there would be a 75% chance of your next kid being deaf and 25% chance of being hearing.

If you are deaf, but were hearing at birth, that would make you technically hearing. Since you are half of the couple, that makes you 1/2 of the whole. Take 1/2 hearing, 1/4 deaf, and 1/4 hearing... that makes 3/4 hearing and 1/3 deaf. As a result, there would be a 75% chance of your next kid being hearing and 25% chance of being deaf. This also applies if you are already hearing.

You said that everyone else in the family is hearing. I'm guessing that means you parents are hearing and you're probably hearing. :dunno:

Of course, this is all just a theory. I've been told by a few doctors that if I had a kid with a gal who was born deaf, it would be a 50% chance of being a deaf kid. If I had a kid with a gal who was born hearing, it would be a 100% chance of being a hearing kid. I was born hearing so there's no genetic traits or anything that would make my kid deaf.
 
lmkbrh904 said:
I have a question. What do you think the chance of me and my boyfriend having deaf children? Both his parents are deaf...one from a childhood disease and the other from genetics. His brother is also deaf. (Genetics). He's the only hearing one in his family. My brother was born deaf but we can't figure out why. No one else in my family is deaf. Anybody have any idea?
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See the two links below.
Your Doctor will help you.

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/07/10/1057783282446.html?oneclick=true

Deafness-test embryo fails to take
July 11 2003
By Tom Noble
Health Editor

A Melbourne couple carrying a genetic cause of deafness have failed to achieve pregnancy after their IVF embryos were screened in a bid to guarantee a child with perfect hearing.

The screening for the mutations in the connexin 26 gene is the world's first reported case of an embryonic deafness test, according to details given at the International Genetics Congress yesterday.

The condition, non-syndromic deafness, affects about one in 1000 children in the Caucasian population. The couple each had one affected gene but, because the condition is recessive, neither was deaf. However, if they had a child, it had a one in four chance of inheriting the affected gene from both parents and being deaf.

The screening was authorised in September by Victoria's Infertility Treatment Authority, which regulates the type of tests that can be made on days-old embryos before they are implanted into the mother.

It said it regarded deafness as a medical condition, not a frivolous or cosmetic use of the technology.

But the green light to screen out embryos carrying two deafness genes was attacked by ethicists, who said it cleared the way for society to begin screening out other unwanted human characteristics.

The British Deaf Association, a vocal opponent of genetic testing for deafness, said it opposed screening both on an established foetus or on eight-cell embryos produced through IVF.

"Deaf people understand only too well the historical links between genetics and eugenics," it said. "We will oppose any uses of genetic technologies that seek to eliminate deafness from society."

The couple, who want to remain anonymous, produced seven embryos in their IVF cycle.

Each embryo was tested: one had two affected genes (so would become deaf), five carried one gene and one was all-clear. The unaffected embryo was transferred into the woman but no pregnancy occurred. The other carrier embryos were frozen and later transferred without success.

It is not known if the couple plan another IVF cycle.

More than 100 genetically screened babies have been born in Australia since testing began about five years ago and screening has boomed in the past two years as genetic causes for a range of conditions have been identified.

Some couples who are able to conceive naturally have chosen IVF so their embryos would be screened.

Testing for disorders such as cystic fibrosis, Huntington's disease and muscular dystrophy have become relatively common among people with a family history of the diseases who want to ensure they do not pass to the next generation.

A Melbourne woman recently became the first in Australia to be pregnant with an IVF baby screened for a gene that causes cancer. The woman, who carries a gene that causes a bowel cancer called FAP, had her colon removed at 19 and needs hospital treatment four times a year. She said she was not prepared to pass on the genetic mutation to her child.

This month, Monash IVF expects to complete a test for a couple who want to screen their embryos for inherited Alzheimer's

http://www.education.theage.com.au/pagedetail.asp?intpageid=233&strsection=students&intsectionid=0

Babies by design

Compiled by Vikki Leone, The Age Education Unit
The Age Wednesday, April 24, 2002

Increasingly we have the technology to choose the characteristics of our children. Should we?

What are ``designer babies''?

Science continually accrues greater genetic knowledge. Geneticists claim to have found the gene for good parenting, genes for obesity, Alzheimer's disease, hair colour and happiness. Amazing advances in reproductive technologies increase the potential to choose the traits or characteristics of children.

Techniques such as preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) can already be used to screen embryos for genetic diseases. Similarly, embryos created outside the body using invitro fertilisation are tested for genetic disorders before being transferred to the uterus.

Advances in genetic technology have brought many benefits but also raise some serious concerns. Advocates highlight the potential benefits, such as the possible elimination of debilitating diseases such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's.

Some, however, fear that it will encourage attempts to create ``perfect'', highachieving children. Will parents of the future be able to select their desired genes to create the embryo of choice - their own ``designer baby''? What ethical issues will this raise?

Few, however, anticipated the case of prospective parents deliberately engineering genetic defects into their children. A US couple has sparked a controversial debate by deliberately choosing a deaf sperm donor in order to maximise their chance of having a deaf baby. Candy McCullough and Sharon Duchesneau selected a deaf man as a sperm donor after being told by a sperm bank that donors with disabilities were screened out. The couple see deafness as a cultural identity and not a disability, and their decision has been condemned by many.

What rights should parents have to select their children's characteristics?

Increasingly parents engage in selection. Most commonly this involves prenatal screening against disability or disease. In Australia, women routinely use ultrasound and amniocentesis to test for congenital abnormalities. Some argue that this is quite different from accepting and choosing a disability such as deafness. There have been several reported cases of deaf children deliberately conceived through embryo selection overseas, and the chairman of Melbourne IVF, John McBain, says a deaf couple approached his service three years ago wanting to maximise their chance of having a deaf baby.

To some deaf people, the debate is offensive because it implies that deaf people are defective. McCullough and Duchesneau, like many in their community, do not see deafness as a disability, so they don't see themselves as bringing a disabled child into the world. They consider themselves members of a minority cultural group and simply believe they would be better parents to a deaf child, wanting a child ``just like them''.

Their view is supported by others in the deaf community who believe the couple's decision is their right and their choice. Simon Andersson, a deaf man who is an actuary and secretary of the Victorian Council of Deaf People, says: ``I get the feeling that people who object to a deaf couple having a deaf baby are objecting to deaf culture. There is nothing wrong with being deaf. Deaf is fine. Deaf is OK.''

Some, who may personally think it's better to be hearing than deaf, respect that people should be able to make their own decisions about the children they want to have. Others have been more critical about the women's decision to purposely conceive a deaf child. They argue that it's not about discrimination, but denying their child the right to fully appreciate the benefits of hearing and limiting their opportunities in life.
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My friend Lynn's husband have 5 deaf children with his first wife. They check with Specialist in the hospitail to test genetic.
The test result confirmed that they will have deaf child. It surprised Lynn because her husband's side of genetic is stronger. Anyway, one year later after that test result they have a deaf child.
There're no generation of Lynn's husband's side & also his ex, too. It mean that he & his ex are the first generation. Interesting isnt it?
 
Since my deafness was unknown cause, and my husband became deaf when his mother was pregnant taking care of his two older sisters who had the german measles. Drs assumed that my hubby had it in his mommy's tummy.

My case was unknown but I got Great Uncle who is deaf. Found out recently that he became deaf due to mengtisis...nothing related to me...me and hubby ended up having two hearing children.

Eventually found out I may have deaf cousin on far side...she and I share same last name and went same grade classes together. small world.

Drs think I had too much fluids in my ears that couldn't be treated well by antiboticis I was given. Who knows....

if you had deafness in your genes. bigger chance u getting deaf kids. My roommate came from 6th generation of deafness.
 
well, genes are unpredictable.

i know a couple who come from hearing families and bore 4 deaf kids. they are puzzled but elated.

everytime my wife and i play a DVD movie or watch HBO with loudspeakers at home basement, the baby in my wife's womb moves. my guess our baby would be koda.

anyway, i think the odd of having deaf kids increase when deaf marries and have kids instead of spreading out in hearing population.
 
lmkbrh904 said:
I have a question. What do you think the chance of me and my boyfriend having deaf children? Both his parents are deaf...one from a childhood disease and the other from genetics. His brother is also deaf. (Genetics). He's the only hearing one in his family. My brother was born deaf but we can't figure out why. No one else in my family is deaf. Anybody have any idea?
Click to expand...

I might be able to give an educated guess. Was the mother or the father deaf from birth? When you say genetics, do they know what gene the mutation is in?
Without knowing any information I think that it is a 50 50 chance that you and your boyfriend could be carriers for deafness. The deafness must be recessive since it is not passed on to everyone in your families. There are many different deafness causing genes, so it doesn't mean that the same genes are mutated, which would be good. How is the level or symptoms of hearing loss different from the symptoms in your boyfriends family?
 
interesting happened to me, first preggy I seen dr genetic discuss my family deaf, husband's family hearing but Dr believe it wuld be deaf child, gave birth older daughter she is hearing they call her hard of hearing cuz she doesnt speak much but hear and responds signing ASL, anyway, second daughter again was told hearing, i think Dr looked at older sister dunno, in the fact, she is deaf, huh! so I dont believe in genetic, how come first start who is deaf where genetic comes from? then pass in family easy to look past as genetic :dunno:
also my younger sister is deaf, her ex husband is hard of hearing but speaks most little knows sign, Dr told her as deaf child, my nephew is hearing 100% :roll:
 
well you see I was just kind of curious b/c I wasn't sure abuot it because of his mom's childhood illness making her deaf. It really doesn't matter to me whether or not I have them, I would love them either way.
 
deaflibrarian said:
You have a choice to get genetic testing and genetic selection to select embryos that do not have the traits you don't want.
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You can do genetic selection on embryos...? Do you have any links where I could find more information on this?....
 
If people want to ensure they are not going to have a child with Down's syndrome, Huntington's disease, CF, MD, deafness, blindness, etc., get cancer later in life, or they want a boy or girl, then it is their right and choice to decide how to go from there with the help of their doctor(s).
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I disagree! I definitly think that avoiding degenerate and mental disorders is a good thing, but avoiding physical problems? Most of the parents out there aren't exactly well versed on the honest to goodness day to day lives of those with disabilties. "Oh no...It's so horrible that our wittle girl can't hear! She's not normal....boohoohoo!" Kids with disabilties are JUST like those without disabilties. Raising a kid with a disabilty is JUST like raising a kid without a disabilty....
 
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