Two pigmentation genes in particular are often
associated with deafness in dogs: the merle gene (seen in the collie, Shetland Sheepdog, Dappled Dachshund, Harlequin Great Dane, American Foxhound, Old English Sheepdog, and Norwegian Dunkerhound among others) and the piebald gene (Bull Terrier, Samoyed, Greyhound, Great Pyrenees, Sealyham Terrier, Beagle, Bulldog, Dalmatian, English Setter).
And now, new research by academics at the University of Nottingham has suggested that the impact of the condition on those closest to them should be considered when personalising rehabilitation plans for
patients with deafness.
The IDEA officially defines the term as «concomitant [simultaneous] hearing and visual impairments, the combination of which causes such severe communication and other developmental and educational needs that they can not be accommodated in special education programs solely for
children with deafness or children with blindness.»
There is alot of good information about training a deaf dog and even a great section on describing why dogs become deaf, including common color patterns that can go
along with deafness.
Deafblindness means concomitant hearing and visual impairments, the combination of which causes such severe communication and other developmental and educational needs that they can not be accommodated in special education programs solely for
students with deafness or students with blindness (Utah Special Education Rules, II.J.2.
The breeders of the pure white dogs, despite their increasing
issues with deafness and other degenerate problems, fought tooth and nail to keep the pit bull - bull terrier crosses from the registry.
Then the scientist in me kicks in... thank goodness... and I look at this question as an opportunity to educate people regarding OES markings and their
correlation with deafness.
Waardenburg's syndrome, a human condition,
presents with deafness, a stripe of white in the hair and beard, blue or different colored eyes (even in Blacks and Asians), no pigment behind the retina, and minor structural deformities around the nose and eyes.
A
puppy with deafness in only one ear is harder to detect, but also less of a challenge to train and care for.
Stella Man, a researcher from Queen Mary, University of London, recently discovered that Cx26, a gene
associated with deafness, also plays a role in helping wounds heal.
Merle colored Pomeranians often
deal with deafness, ametropia, colobomas, intraocularal pressure and microphthalmia.
«I can envision
patients with deafness having their genome sequenced and a tailored, precision medicine treatment injected into their ears to restore hearing,» Holt says.
Children with deafness or hard - to - hear conditions as well as ones that have problems with spoken language may need AT.
Families who are
coping with deafness, dwarfism, Down syndrome, autism, schizophrenia, multiple disabilities; families who have transgender children; families whose children are prodigies or who became criminals - each get their own chapter.
Along with the deafness (both ears or just one) this breed can have eye problems (tunnel vision, eye won't open all the way, pupil is abnormal, etc.).
In addition,
those with deafness and hardness of hearing, selective mutism or aphasia have used augmentative communication.
Nevertheless, it is suspected to be associated
with deafness.
Blue eyes may be associated
with deafness, but not always.
The piebald, extreme white and merle coat colours are associated
with deafness, selection against which would eliminate the problem.
White dogs tend to have a problem
with deafness.
Oddly, some solid white dogs, such as the Spitz or the Samoyed, have no problems
with deafness, he says.
How Deafness in dogs is diagnosed: Underlying conditions associated
with Deafness may create complications, so your veterinarian is always the best resource to successfully diagnose hearing loss.
Although many merle Australian shepherds are healthy, the breed is frequently associated
with deafness or blindness.