TYPES OF USHER SYNDROME
There are three different clinical types of Usher syndrome. They are called Usher Syndrome type 1 (US1), Usher syndrome type 2 (US2), and Usher syndrome type 3 (US3). All types of the syndrome are inherited in the same pattern — as autosomal recessive traits.
People with US1 are born nearly deaf. Eyesight usually begins degrading around the age of 5-10, beginning with night blindness. Generally, night blindness precedes tunnel vision by years or even decades. The duration of becoming legally blind spans from as early as childhood to as late as the 40’s. People with US1 also struggle with balance or homeostasis, which is the biological balance within the human body. Because of the balance problems, children with US1 are slow to sit without support and rarely learn to walk before they are 18 months old.
With US3, hearing loss and vision loss due to RP are both progressive.

How is Usher Syndrome Treated?
There is currently no medical treatment for Usher syndrome. Research and genetic testing are currently being conducted. Cochlear implants have been found to be very effective in patients with severe or profound hearing loss.
Is genetic testing available?
At this time, genetic testing for Usher syndrome is done only as part of research projects. Usher syndrome is not caused by only one gene. So far, 10 Usher genes have been mapped: 7 for type I, 3 for type II, and 1 for type 3. There are still more genes to find.
Finding the genes is a very important advance in the fight against Usher syndrome. Further study is required to characterize these genes and determine how the mutated genes cause Usher syndrome. Several researchers throughout the world are working on Usher syndrome. Findings from this research may one day allow treatments for Usher syndrome to be developed.