Usher syndrome is a common cause of deaf-blindness. It includes a group of genetic conditions involving both hearing loss and retinitis pigmentosa, a progressive, degenerative eye disease. The most common type is Type I which consists of profound congenital deafness with retinitis pigmentosa and severe balance problems. Type II consists of a moderate-severe hearing loss, no balance problems and retinitis pigmentosa. Type III consists of normal hearing at birth with progressive loss in childhood or early teens and night vision problems (retinitis pigmentosa) often begins in the teen years. Some children with Type III develop balance problems as they grow older. Hearing and sight decrease over time, but the rate at which they decline varies among individuals.

Source: NETAC

Source: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

Source: Helen Keller National Center

Source: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

Source: Nevada Dual Sensory Impairment Project

Source: Deaf-Blind Perspectives

Source: Information Center for Acquired Deafblindness

Source: Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Source: Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Source: SENSE

Source: ICEVI World Conference

Source: Colorado Services for Children with Combined Vision and Hearing Loss

Source: New York School for the Deaf

Source: Deaf-Blind Perspectives (page 9)

Source: Deaf-Blind Perspectives

Source: GeneReviews

Source: GeneReviews

Source: Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Source: National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness