Genetics of deafness

The first chapter, “Genetics and Deafness: A View from the Inside” highlights the bioethical issues that arise with the advancement of genetic technologies. Not all hard of hearing individuals want to correct their hearing, i.e., some accept sign language and consider hearing loss as a difference rather than a disability. This deaf culture is a global culture created only out of necessity, hearing challenged adults have the right to either adhere to this deaf culture or join the hearing community with aided hearing. The proxy decision making by parents of children born deaf may also be a contributing factor in this. Because of neural plasticity, earlier hearing restoration in congenitally deaf children with cochlear implants always offers better outcomes. It is unethical to delay implantation in a prelingually deaf child since late implantation is doomed to failure from the start. Restoration of hearing in deaf children will certainly expand their educational and employment opportunities in a future that requires Auditory Verbal skills especially in underdeveloped and developing countries where there are not much deaf community privileges. So, cochlear implants or any other surgical or genetic techniques that offer a bright and open future for a deaf child are arguably not only morally permissible but should be morally encouraged world over.