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Facts about Usher Syndrome

Facts about Usher Syndrome

USHER SYNDROME IS THE MOST COMMON GENETIC CAUSE OF COMBINED DEAFNESS AND BLINDNESS.

More than 400,000 people are affected by this disorder worldwide.

There are three clinical types: Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3. Each type is distinguished by the age when the symptoms appear, as well as the severity of the symptoms that include hearing, vision and sometimes balance. DNA testing is available to confirm the type.   

The vision loss component of Usher syndrome is caused by retinitis pigmentosa (RP). A progressive disorder, RP causes the cells in the retina to deteriorate over time. Night blindness is the first stage of RP, followed by a narrowing of the visual field into tunnel vision, and, finally, total blindness. The speed of the progression varies significantly.

Currently, there is no cure for Usher syndrome, however, researchers are hard at work seeking out treatments to potentially slow, stop, or even reverse vision loss and hearing. 

For more information visit: The Usher Syndrome Coalition