Impaired

Impaired But Unstoppable

For Yua_Hamato_2012!

I chose Raph for this because I know he's one of your favorites!

As the summary states, this is a book where Raph was born with Waardenburg Syndrome! This oneshot will explain the condition as well as how Raph lives half-deaf due to his condition. 

Heavy research was conducted before writing this book! 

I hope y'all enjoy! 

~*~

Hamato Raphael sat on his bed, listening to music. He had it on a bit loud and made sure his good ear was close to it. He softly sang along with the lyrics, tapping his hand on the bed in rhythm. 

A loud knock then caught the red-banded turtle's attention. Raph turned off the music and opened the door. Mikey wss standing there with a controller. "Hi, Raphie! Wanna play video games?" Mikey asked.

The youngest turtle spoke clearly and calmly, facing Raph so the older turtle could understand him and read Mikey's lips. "Sure, little brother." Raph said quietly. He walked with Mikey to the couch.

The two played a video game together, laughing cheering. Donnie and Leo walled in, saw, and laughed. Raph motioned for them to join in as they all started playing a round of Crash Bandicoot together.

Raph was a bit different than his brothers. He was born with a rare condition called Waardenburg Syndrome. Of course, he didn't figure out what his disability was actually called until a few years ago.

Waardenburg Syndrome is a genetic condition that can produce hearing challenges, changes in pigmentation of the hair, skin, and eyes, problems with completely straightening joints, and intellectual difficulties. 

"It's caused by certain mutations, specifically in the EDN3, EDNRB, MITF, PAX3, SNAI2, and SOX10 genes." Donnie told Raph when they were 8, around the tike they got internet access for the first time. "It may be caused by a parent having the same condition." 

They all assumed Raph inherited the faulty gene from one of his parents as a baby turtle, causing him to be born with the condition. Raph was born with with very pale green skin and very pale blue eyes.

As he grew older, his skin and eyes slowly darkened over time. His skin turned a darker shade of green and his eyes turned a mutageon-colored green. He also had a broad nasal bridge as well as Dysgraphia and Dyscalculia. 

But the most obvious symptom was that Raph was born partially deaf. He could only hear from his left ear  and was completely deaf in his right ear. Splinter realized something was amiss when Raph was only a tiny turtle tot. 

The wise father noticed that one-year-old Raph would not respond if he was lying on his left side. He also didn't make a sound until he was almost two years old.  He also didn't respond to sound very much. 

As Raph grew older, he complained that things were too quiet. Or he would talk too softly or even too loudly. Sometimes he told his father or brothers that he only had one good ear. 

He wouldn't always respond to his father or brothers when they spoke to him. He'd also move himself forward when someone was talking or look confused, as if he didn't fully understand what they said. 

When Raph was 5, Splinter had an idea. He took Raph into the dojo. "Are we gonna train, daddy?" Raph asked.  Splinter shook his head. "No, little one, can you sit down on the rug for me?" Splinter asked him. 

Raph looked at his father in confusion as he didn't catch what his father said. "Huh?" Splinter spoke a bit clearer and slower. "Please sit on the rug." Raph nodded, sitting down.