According to statistics, 35,000 newborns in China are born deaf before they are born, and with the addition of delayed and medically deaf children, the number reaches 60,000. The majority of the population believes that “only deaf people with disabilities give birth to deaf children”. However, clinical data show that 80% of deaf children are born to parents with normal hearing. 4-5 out of 100 people with normal hearing have a genetic defect for deafness, and if people with the same type of deafness are married, they have a much higher chance of having a deaf child than the general population. We should pay attention to the science of deafness causes and do early screening and diagnosis and intervention, especially when the child is born or even in the mother’s womb.
Why should pregnant women with normal hearing be tested for the deafness gene?
Six out of every 100 people in China with normal hearing have the deafness mutation gene. More than 80% of deaf children are born to normal hearing parents.
Who is deafness genetic screening for?
It is suitable for all people. Only 2-3 ml of venous blood is needed to test a couple or a pregnant woman before delivery.
For couples found to carry the same mutation, fetal deafness genetic testing can be performed as early as 10-11 weeks or 18-21 weeks of pregnancy, allowing for early diagnosis and early intervention. The goal of eugenics is achieved.
Is it possible for a couple with deafness to have a baby with normal hearing?
If a couple is genetically tested and a pathogenic gene is found, prenatal diagnosis and genetic screening for newborn deafness can be performed.
Why do some babies have “one shot deafness”?
According to some sources, half of the new deaf children in China each year are drug-induced deaf. The deafness caused by the use of antibiotics is related to the physical condition of the child. If genetic testing is performed early in the life of such children, the deafness can be avoided by banning certain drugs for life.
If my baby passes the hearing screening, does it mean that there will be no hearing problems in the future?
Drug-related deafness occurs when a child carries a deafness-causing gene that causes deafness after the use of certain antibiotics. Delayed deafness is a condition in which a child is born with normal hearing and is more likely to become deaf after certain traumatic injuries, which are also genetically linked to deafness. These deafnesses can actually be prevented by early screening.
Why is genetic screening for deafness necessary?
There are 800,000 deaf children under the age of 7 in China, and the number is increasing by 30,000 every year. 1-3 out of every 1000 newborns have hearing impairment. Deafness due to medication and delayed deafness is 30% of the children with deafness.
What are the benefits of deafness genetic screening?
Testing for the deafness gene allows for early detection of congenital deafness and delayed deafness – and medical intervention to prevent birth defects;
●Deafness gene testing can also detect mothers-to-be who carry the gene for drug-related deafness, and provide guidance on drug safety for the mother-to-be, baby and family;
● Testing for the deafness gene can also indicate the risk of deafness in the family members of the person with the deafness gene mutation – prompting the family to work together to prevent deafness.
What happens if the deafness gene test result is positive?
A positive result requires professional guidance from a clinician. If needed, further genetic testing for deafness will be performed on the father-to-be (blood sampling) and the fetus (amniotic fluid sampling). If the mother-to-be tests positive for the drug deafness gene, no additional testing is required, but the mother-to-be, baby and family are advised to abstain from the use of deafness medications for life to prevent the onset of deafness.
The following antibiotics are prohibited for drug deafness gene carriers
Streptomycin, Kanamycin, Tobramycin (antipramycin), Spectinomycin, Neomycin, Gentamicin, Vistamycin, Sisomycin (Zithromax, Sisomycin), Minoramycin, Azamycin, Amikacin (Butamycin), Netilmicin (Netil, Listericin, Nootropic), Ribomycin, Edamycin (Etimycin Sulfate), Ixora (Isopamycin Sulfate), Pediatric Lipitor (Etimycin Sulfate) Gentamicin)