Impact of Genetic Hearing Impairment

This book addresses the impact of genetic deafness/hearingimpairment on people' s lives and those around them. It includesthe perspectives of those who are deaf or hard of hearing as wellas those working in the field. Professional topics include geneticcounselling, social science, psychology, social work and - withinmedicine - audiological and ENT medical and audiologicalpaediatrics. These practitioners are both hearing and hearingimpaired. The impact of deafness on children, those of working age andelderly people is discussed highlighting the specific effect ofgenetic factors. In particular there are chapters on deafblindnessand otosclerosis and NF2 (a potentially lethal condition). The Whodefinitions and ICF are used as a framework for considering theeffect on people' s lives of impairment and their participation insociety.This provides a bridge between the medical and social models ofdisability. Contributors write from both their professional andpersonal experience in order to try and address some of the issuesraised by the real impact of genetic deafness on everyday life andhow these can best be tackled by those working in the field.