Re: Type 2/hearing loss

[Guest guest]

Hi Barb/:

My name is Marti; I am a 34 yo, female w/ Type 2 CMT. We know it is

Type 2 by process of elimination; I had the genetic test done and was negative

for Type 1 and EMG results are consistent for CMT Type 2. I don't know which

type of Type 2 I have. I have " classic " CMT symptoms of high arch, hammer toes,

atrophied calves, a bit of drop foot and some weakness in my hands. I consider

myself mildly affected, however, as I am able to work full-time, work out at the

gym regularly, downhill ski and am otherwise pretty active. The CMT is most

troublesome in how it affects my balance and the shoes I can wear. I've also

been struggling with the anxiety of just knowing I have CMT and that it's nature

is progressive w/o a cure. I'm getting better w/ the anxiety part all the time

though.

As far as hearing loss, my father, whom it is assumed I inherited CMT

from, is over 90% deaf and the doctors attribute it to CMT. He also has high

arches and walks w/ a different sort of gait, but his MAIN or primary symptom

has always been the hearing loss; so much so that when I started having CMT

symptoms in my childhood and teens, they didn't even consider that I'd inherited

it from him. Only after his hearing got A LOT worse in a short period of time

and all his test results for other things were negative, did they suggest it was

CMT. My hearing is not perfect, but I do not have a hearing problem in the way

he does. My symptoms are more of the " classic " CMT.

I'd be interested in hearing how you mangage your CMT, . I too try

to manage my symptoms w/ diet and exercise and have noticed some benefit to

both.

Peace, Marti