Question
A mother who is congenitally deaf is worried about passing it on to her child. According to her description, her father and no other family members were deaf, while one of her aunts was deaf, but her children did not inherit this condition. So, is there a possibility that her future children will inherit her congenital deafness?
Answer
Based on the information provided, there is a possibility of deafness being inherited across generations, which depends on whether the deafness is congenital or acquired. Congenital deafness is a common chromosomal recessive genetic disorder, so if one parent is congenitally deaf, special attention should be paid during childbirth. Therefore, if this mother is congenitally deaf, there is a risk that her child may inherit deafness. It is recommended to consult genetic counseling before childbirth to assess the risk and take appropriate preventive measures.