Q: My 7 years old daughter suffers from moderate hearing loss in both ears. The condition is congenital, though it came in notice only after she turned four, when she could not pick up on the language. Her other developmental milestones were normal. We had been visiting many doctors since she was 2.5 years old. But, apparently, because her hearing loss is moderate, they could not diagnose it. Now, she wears hearing aids and doing well. My husband and I would like to consider having another child, but we have been told that the cause of our daughter's deafness could be genetic, though I had no complications during pregnancy and illnesses. No one in our family suffers from deafness. Please suggest what kind of testing we need to undergo before we consider having another child. Which hospitals in Delhi conduct such tests?

A:Your child has congenital deafness, now is it genetic or non-genetic, is difficult to say. It is not true that the other child you will have, will also have the same disability. You can consult your gynaecologist and ask her for a good genetic counsellor. Genetic evaluation and testing is being done now a days. You can consult them for your problem. I am not aware which hospitals are doing it. Please ask your gynaecologist.