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Royal Couple makes announcement about Crown Prince
Genetic Disorder will ultimately leave future Monarch Deaf
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
January 14, 5589


Prince Consort announces Crown Prince's hearing loss

Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina I Ananto and His Highness, Crown Prince William Ananto-Sandoval announced today that the future Emperor of the Anantonese Empire will be completely without hearing by the time he is 16 years old.  His Highness, the Minor Prince Fredrick Ananto Sandoval, who is currently eight year old, suffers from a rare genetic disorder which is causing his hearing to fail.

"Our son, the Crown Prince, is suffering from progressive hearing loss," said His Highness the Prince Consort.  "It is a genetic disease called Cochlear Degeneration.  It usually happens as a result of trauma, but in our son's case, it is a genetic malfunction that will eventually take his hearing from him."

The Prince Consort, described the prognosis for the Minor Prince Fredrick.  "He has already lost an estimated 45% of his hearing.  We will be able to fit him with hearing aids and these will buy him a few years, but even with the best technology we have available, Fredrick will have lost all of his hearing within about 8 years.  The silver lining is we now have almost a decade to begin learning sign language so that even if he loses the ability to hear, he will not lose the ability to communicate."

The Prince Consort said that he and the Empress are in the process of interviewing tutors that will begin teaching both Fredrick directly and the entire royal family, how to communicate via sign language.  "We would ideally want someone who will will also be able to teach him to read lips," said Prince Consort William.  "This may be a useful skill that will help him compensate for his lack of ability to hear when spoken to.  Since he has learned to speak while he can still hear, he will not lose much of his ability to speak after losing his hearing, but learning to read lips as well as hands will allow him to live as normal a live as possible, all things considered."

The Empress did not comment at the press conference, but she maintained a dignified posture throughout.  More emotion was seen on the face of the Prince Consort, who seemed resigned, but resilient.  "Unfortunately, there is nothing more that can be done.  We have looked into an implant which would allow him to simulate electrical stimulations to the hearing centers of his brain, but the issue is in his brain itself.  The neurologists assure us that this will be limited to the hearing center of his brain, but modern cochlear implants are not an option for the Crown Prince.  It's just something that he has lived with his entire life, and is now finally experiencing to the degree that we noticed it."

The Prince Consort added at the end that Her Highness the Minor Princess Michelle Ananto-Sandoval is not experiencing the same sort of genetic disorder, and will be able to keep her hearing.  "Little Michelle has said she will help the Crown Prince," Prince Consort William said with a smile.  "We are thankful for that."