Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
FIGURE 9.3. Family history of T.R. and J.R. who were diagnosed with autosomal-
recessive, nonsyndromic hearing loss.
6.3.6 Genetic Counseling Issues
Genetic counseling in this situation would include a discussion of autoso-
mal-recessive inheritance. Any future children T.R. and J.R.'s parents may
have would have a 25% chance of having a hearing loss. The chance for
T.R. and J.R. to have children with hearing loss depends on how frequent
the gene causing their hearing loss is in the population, whether they marry
a person with a hearing loss, and the cause of their mates' hearing loss, if
any. Both T.R. and J.R. would be encouraged to seek genetic counseling
again at the time they are considering marriage or children.
Issues regarding how the parents feel about their child's hearing loss
would be explored. Feelings of guilt or blame (“It's my fault my children
are deaf”) may be present. Referral to a support group or counseling may
be beneficial. The parents may also have many questions about educational
and language choices for their children, and appropriate referrals would be
made.
This family would be referred to a genetics center performing molecular
genetic studies of nonsyndromic deafness. Families agree to participate in
research for different reasons. Although this family may receive no appar-
ent immediate benefit from participation in research, it may be of benefit
to family members in years to come. Identification of the gene for hearing
loss present in the family may assist the parents with dealing with their
feelings about passing deafness on to their children. It may also allow
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