Usher syndrome is a genetic disorder characterised by a hearing loss and gradual loss of vision due to retinitis pigmentosa (a deterioration of the cells in the retina). Some people with Usher’s may experience problems with their balance.
There are three different types of Usher Syndrome which develop in different ways:
Type 1: The person is born profoundly deaf and is likely to develop vision problems in their first 10 years
Type 2: The person is born with a hearing loss and may develop vision problems within their first 20 years
Types 1 and 2 are the most common.
Type 3: The person is born with normal hearing and sight but is likely to develop hearing and sight problems in early to mid adulthood.
Type 3 is quite rare.
The following organisations have lots of information about deafblindness:
Sense
Deafblind UK
Deafblind Scotland