Dhadkai
Dhadkai is a village in the Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir, India, known as the "Silent Village of India" due to the high prevalence of hearing and speech impairments in the community.
Location
Dhadkai is located in the Gandoh Tehsil, approximately 70 kilometers from Doda and 220 kilometers from Jammu.
Population
The village has a population of around 1,774 people, comprising 970 males and 804 females.
A significant portion of the population is affected by a congenital disorder that causes severe hearing and speech disabilities. The first reported case of hearing and speech impairment in the village dates back to 1901.
The villagers use a local sign language to communicate with each other. This language is based on gestures commonly used by the hearing population, facilitating communication between hearing and non-hearing villagers.
Research has identified mutations in the OTOF, CLDN14, and SLC26A4 genes as major causes of hearing loss in Dhadkai.