Teenage sisters born with incredibly rare Usher syndrome - which has left them both deaf and gradually going blind

29.11.2015 In many ways India and Samira Cox are typical teenagers: they go to school, listen to music and play computer games.

But four years ago, the Sydney sisters were diagnosed with Type 1 Usher syndrome, a condition that affects their hearing, vision and balance.

The diagnosis means both girls, who were born profoundly deaf, have slowly deteriorating vision and their mother, Vicki Cox, told Daily Mail Australia there is no cure.

Mrs Cox first noticed there was something wrong when India was about 10 months old.

Her daughter, now 16, was not responding as she thought she should so she booked her in for a hearing test.

Initial results indicated a problem and India was booked in for an emergency referral.

Mrs Cox, who had been heavily pregnant with second child, gave birth to her daughter Samira and not long after was told the heart-breaking news: India was profoundly deaf.