If two people with Usher have children, all of the children will be affected if the parents have the same Usher Syndrome gene. Should the parents Usher Syndrome be due to different genes in each parent it is possible that none of the children would be affected although some of the children might be carriers for two separate Usher Syndrome genes. Because of profound deafness in Usher Type 1, learning to speak is not easy or always possible and many children and adults prefer to communicate through sign language, which is a visual language with its own grammar. It is important for family members to recognise that sign language can break down communication barriers for these individuals, particularly when other family members are willing to learn it as well. An important factor in this type of communication with an Usher s individual is keeping the signs small a person with Usher s will have tunnel vision and can only see what is directly in front of them.
Sign language is taught in associations for deaf people and in some schools and colleges.
With Usher Type 2, the hearing loss is only partial and hearing aids will greatly benefit these individuals. However, they will not correct the hearing the same way that glasses correct sight. Children fitted with hearing aids will experience difficulties with background noise, and hearing certain words. They may depend heavily on lip-reading to understand what others are saying. There is no cure for Usher at the moment.