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Living with Dysmorphism-short stature-deafness-disorder of sex development syndrome

A rare inherited condition with distinct facial features, short height, deafness, cleft palate, and differences in sex development.

Understanding Dysmorphism-short stature-deafness-disorder of sex development syndrome

Dysmorphism-short stature-deafness-disorder of sex development syndrome is a rare inherited condition that affects growth, hearing, face, and sex development.

People have distinct facial features, deafness, a cleft palate, short height, and delays in growth and development. Sex development differences, such as hypospadias, can occur. Other features listed include a small head, low muscle tone, feeding difficulties, repeated breathing infections, and high blood pressure in the lungs. Signs show up in the newborn and infant years.

Signs & symptoms

Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:

  • Hearing loss
  • Short height
  • Severe intellectual disability
  • Small head size (microcephaly)
  • Low muscle tone (hypotonia)
  • Repeated respiratory infections

Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.

Diagnosis

  1. Talk with your doctor

    Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.

  2. See a specialist

    Specialists who may be involved include brain and nervous system specialists, genetic specialists, hormone specialists and maternal-fetal medicine specialists.

  3. Ask which tests can help

    Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.

Care & treatment

Care team
Brain and nervous system specialists (neurologists); Genetic specialists (geneticists); Hormone specialists (endocrinologists); Maternal-fetal medicine specialists (pregnancy-related)
Expert care
Ask about multidisciplinary care centers for rare conditions
Treatment
GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
Research
Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.

General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.

Everyday life

Living with a rare condition is easier with support.

  • Connect with rare disease patient organizations for support
  • Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
  • Ask about patient registries that help research
  • Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Bring these questions to your next doctor visit
What hearing support is available?
Which endocrine and genital specialists should be involved?
Would genetic counseling help our family?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startNewborn and as an Infant
InheritanceAutosomal Recessive

GARD says changes in a person's genes cause this condition. It is autosomal recessive, meaning a child inherits a changed copy of the gene from each parent.

GeneticNeurologicalEndocrineUrinary and Reproductive

Also known as: dysmorphism-short stature-deafness-pseudohermaphroditism syndrome; dysmorphism-short stature-hearing loss-disorder of sex development syndrome; dysmorphism, short stature, deafness, disorder of sex development syndrome; dysmorphism, short stature, deafness, pseudohermaphroditism syndrome; ieshima-koeda-inagaki syndrome

Patient organizations

Rare-disease groups that can help

Source: NIH GARD · Dysmorphism-short stature-deafness-disorder of sex development syndromeGARD ID 18764 · GARD page updated September 2026 · Plain-language summary by Know Rare; editorial review pending. General information, not medical advice.

You are more than your diagnosis

Perspectives from people navigating life with Dysmorphism-short stature-deafness-disorder of sex development syndrome.

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