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Last updated on Sep 29, 2025

Usher Syndrome and Retinitis Pigmentosa: Hearing and Vision Loss

Usher Syndrome combines progressive hearing loss with retinitis pigmentosa. Learn causes, symptoms, and holistic treatments that can help preserve function.

Usher Syndrome and Retinitis Pigmentosa

Being diagnosed with Usher Syndrome can feel overwhelming. Not only does it bring the vision challenges of retinitis pigmentosa, but it also causes progressive hearing loss. Many families worry about what this means for their future.

Dr. Rosenfarb has worked with countless patients who face both vision and auditory decline, and his integrative approach offers hope that function can be preserved and progression slowed.

What is Usher Syndrome?

Usher Syndrome is a neurodegenerative condition that affects both the eyes and ears. Patients often develop:

  • Hearing loss early in life (childhood or adolescence)
  • Night blindness and difficulty adapting to dark environments
  • Progressive tunnel vision leading to restricted fields

Dr. Rosenfarb explains:

“With Usher Syndrome, the immune system is not only attacking the retinal cells, but also the auditory system—the nerves that process hearing. It’s the same autoimmune process manifesting in two places.”

Why Does It Happen?

Conventional medicine classifies Usher Syndrome as a genetic disorder. While genes can create vulnerability, Dr. Rosenfarb’s clinical research shows that autoimmune and inflammatory processes often drive the actual progression.

Key contributors include:

  • Autoimmune misfiring against retinal and auditory cells
  • Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction
  • Environmental triggers such as infections, toxicity, or food sensitivities
  • Stress and poor circulation reducing oxygen delivery to the retina

Symptoms to Watch For

Patients with Usher Syndrome may experience:

  • Early hearing loss in childhood or teen years
  • Balance problems or vertigo (in some subtypes)
  • Night blindness starting in adolescence
  • Peripheral vision loss leading to tunnel vision
  • Later involvement of central vision

The dual sensory loss can be emotionally difficult, but early support and treatment make a significant difference.

Conventional Treatment Approaches

Ophthalmology and audiology often take a symptom-management approach:

  • Hearing aids or cochlear implants for auditory support
  • Low vision aids such as magnifiers, high-contrast lighting, or mobility training
  • Periodic monitoring with OCT and visual fields

While these tools help, they do not address the underlying autoimmune and inflammatory processes that drive degeneration.

Holistic & Integrative Approaches

Dr. Rosenfarb’s clinic combines therapies that target both the systemic inflammation and the local eye environment:

Ophthalmic Acupuncture

Custom protocols stimulate circulation, reduce inflammation, and regulate immune function. Patients often notice improved brightness, contrast, and visual stability.

ACS-3000 Microstimulation

Microcurrent therapy helps “wake up” dormant retinal cells and support nerve communication.

Functional Medicine

Usher Syndrome patients benefit from:

  • Food allergy testing (gluten, dairy, processed foods can worsen inflammation)
  • Gut health repair (leaky gut and microbiome imbalances are common drivers)
  • Stress management and exercise to improve circulation

Nutritional and Herbal Support

  • Omega-3 DHA for nerve regeneration
  • Carotenoids (lutein, zeaxanthin, astaxanthin) for retinal protection
  • MSM eye drops to reduce toxic accumulation
  • CBD (Canovision) to manage inflammation and protect nerves

Living with Usher Syndrome

A diagnosis of Usher Syndrome does not mean giving up. Patients who combine holistic care with lifestyle adjustments often preserve function far longer than expected.

Dr. Rosenfarb emphasizes:

“Our goal is to recover as much as we can, then help you keep what you have. It’s not about waiting for a cure—it’s about acting now to protect your vision and hearing.”

Next Steps

If you or a loved one is living with Usher Syndrome, you don’t have to navigate it alone. Support and treatment options exist today—not just in the future.

Your vision and hearing are precious. With the right integrative care, you can take steps to preserve both.