Background: We report on the higher prevalence of deaf-mutes from a village in Jammu and Kashmir State of India.
Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study among 79 deaf mutes using pedigree analysis, audiometry, imaging and molecular analysis.
Results: A high rate of hereditary deafness with 79 individuals diagnosed to be suffering from non-syndrome deafness in a total population of 2452 individuals residing in the village.
Interpretation: Flourishing of intermarriages led to a population with high prevalence of deafness.
Keywords: Dadhkai; deafness; inbreeding.