"I can't hear you!"

My mother's parents were both deaf. My grandfather's deafness was total and was a genetic trait...my grandmother had scarlet fever when she was a child and could still hear sharp sounds.

I'm not exactly sure of the genetic specifics, but my mother seems to have not inherited the trait that her father had...nor did my sister and I. My cousins have not been so fortunate. While my aunt does not have any hearing loss, her eldest daughter has some. This is not immediately evident, and really only showed up when she went to school. She had a lot of trouble in gym class, and they soon realized that the sounds off all the kids echoing around the gymnasium was making it difficult for her to concentrate or follow directions (because she couldn't hear them).

My youngest cousin, and the only boy, was born hydrocephalic. Deafness was not an immediate concern. He had several surgeries in his first couple of years and was forever banned from contact sports. His parents, because of the hydrocephaly, are religious about his yearly check-ups...several years ago, they noticed some hearing loss, and during this year's check, the doctor let them know that his hearing loss is becoming profound and it is likely that he will eventually become completely deaf. My cousin is 16...he loves music.

My greatest fear has always been that I would lose my sight, but the loss of any of my senses is just so scary.

I want to kick something.