Home Multisensory Impairments IndexCauses of MSI (Syndromes and Conditions)

Causes of MSI (Syndromes and Conditions)

There are over 90 identified causes of congenital deafblindness.  The National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness (a national centre funded by the U.S. Department of Education) has produced an Alphabetical and Frequency list of causes of deafblindness based on the deafblind population in USA (2007).

The most common cause of deafblindness used to be rubella but in countries with vaccination programmes medical conditions caused by premature birth and birth trauma are now more common causes of congenital deafblindness.  These may be associated with rare genetic disorders or with infections during pregnancy. 

Usher syndrome is the most common cause for acquired deafblindness and accounts for over 50 percent of the deafblind community. (Source - CDBRA)

Index of Syndromes and Conditions

Use these sites to search for specific causes

• Contact a Family Search for specific syndrome for brief description and link to further sources of support/information
• Sense Lists 70+ causes of MSI with links to further information
• Unique: Rare Chromosome Disorder Support Group Includes general information about chromosomes and the different ways they can be affected and information leaflets about specific chromosome disorders.
• CLIMB National Information Centre for Metabolic Diseases UK based organisation providing information and support on all metabolic diseases to children, adults, families, carers and professionals.
• National Consortium of Deafblindness Etiologies and Characterstics of Deafblindness Includes information about vision and hearing and different causes of deafblindness

Links for

• CHARGE Syndrome
• Cytomegalovirus CMV
• Usher Syndrome

MSI Index