What is Usher syndrome? EastEnders' Britney diagnosis explained
Britney was rushed to A&E in recent scenes.
EastEnders is tackling a new health storyline in a plot featuring Britney Wainwright (Lola Campbell) after she received a shock diagnosis in recent scenes.
Viewers of the BBC One soap have seen Britney settling into life on Albert Square in recent weeks, after Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty) took her away from her neglectful mother, determined to foster her.
But things took a turn for the worse on Monday night (22nd April) when she was involved in a bike crash and rushed to A&E, where she was eventually diagnosed with Type 2 Usher syndrome.
Whitney and Zack Hudson (James Farrar) were told the condition will eventually lead to sight loss as well as hearing problems, the latter of which viewers will know Britney already has.
But what exactly is Usher syndrome? Read on for everything you need to know about the condition.
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What is Usher syndrome? EastEnders' Britney diagnosis explained
Usher syndrome is a rare genetic disease that leads to partial or total hearing loss, and an eye disease known as retinitis pigmentosa, which causes vision loss that worsens over time.
Usher syndrome is categorised into three types, with each type characterised by the severity of hearing loss.
Most people with Type 1 are born with severe to profound hearing loss.
In Britney’s case, she has been diagnosed with Type 2 Usher syndrome, which is less severe. People with Type 2 are born with hearing loss, but their vision doesn’t start to deteriorate until they’re teenagers or adults.
Usher syndrome Type 3 doesn’t develop until later in life.
The EastEnders storyline marks the first time the condition has been explored in a major British soap.
Read more:
- EastEnders airs life-changing offer for Whitney Dean in early BBC iPlayer release
- EastEnders airs heartwarming update on Cindy Junior amid Lucy Beale memorial
- EastEnders reveals dark Pastor Clayton history in distressing early iPlayer release
- EastEnders spoilers: Billy plans romantic proposal – but loses Honey's engagement ring
EastEnders normally airs Monday to Thursday on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers.
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Authors
Molly Moss is a Trends Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest trends across TV, film and more. She has an MA in Newspaper Journalism and has previously written for publications including The Guardian, The Times and The Sun Online.
