How many in your family have inherited hearing loss/deafness?

[Whoa_Nelly]

Out of five kids, I am the only one who inherited the "cookie bite" hearing loss from our mom. My mom's dad had hearing loss as well. For each of us it began more as young adults, and grew progressively worse with age.

Grandpa had one of those transistor radio type hearing aids, and it seemed (I was just a kid) that he still didn't hear very well with the one wired ear piece he wore.

My mom never got hearing aids. Had severe tinnitus, (as I do), and claimed there were no hearing aids that would improve her hearing. Am pretty sure it was vanity that kept her from seeking hearing help.

Am glad I sought hearing help while still in my 40s. What a world of difference it's made for me! Thank goodness it seems that my son has not inherited hearing loss. I sure hope it doesn't affect my grandkids.



on edit:
Am posting this question not only because am curious, but also because am kicking this forum to keep it alive :D

All you HoH/deaf DU'ers, let's keep this forum going! Have already found it to be a special connection for me here on DU :hi:

[Lowell]

1. Several

I have two cousins deaf from an early age, myself, my son and a granddaughter. Mine began later than the others. I don't know about earlier generations. I always thought grandpa was just ignoring us, but it may have been more.

[uppityperson]

2. no siblings, father, several uncles/aunts, 1 grandparent

[China_cat]

3. Among all my family

and for a lot of different reasons (including inherited), almost all of us. When we get together we look more like an ad for hearing aids than a family reunion.

[tblue37]

4. It runs in the female line of my family.

On my I'm Listening as Hard as I Can! website I write about all the deafness in my family, as well as other deaf issues:
http://www.deafnotdumb.homestead.com/index.html