A remote and picturesque village in Turkey has sparked serious concern among medical professionals and scientists alike: more than half of its residents are deaf.
The village of Gökova, known for its turquoise waters and dramatic mountain backdrops, lies about 720 kilometers from Istanbul and is home to just 120 people. Despite its serene appearance, Gökova faces a baffling health crisis—one that has fundamentally reshaped daily life in the community.
In fact, deafness is so widespread that sign language has become the village’s primary form of communication. Locals seamlessly sign to one another in shops, homes, and on the streets. But for outsiders, communicating in Gökova can be incredibly difficult.
What’s Behind the Deafness?
There are competing theories about the root cause of the unusually high deaf population. One camp attributes it to inbreeding, as the village is highly isolated and has seen very few new residents over the years, leading to marriages between close relatives. Another theory blames long-term exposure to contaminated water.
According to The Mirror, toxic elements such as iron and arsenic, as well as chemical pollution from industrial waste, have been detected in the area. Exposure to heavy metals and pollutants of this nature has been linked to hearing loss in various studies.
Village mayor Eyüp Tozn disputes the inbreeding theory.
“I don’t believe this is due to marriages between relatives,” he said. “I think the problem lies in the unsafe drinking water. We’ve learned to rely on sign language as a community, but visitors really struggle to communicate with us.”
Resident Sati Tozun shared a deeply personal perspective:
“I have four children with disabilities, and one of them has three children—all of them deaf. My daughter-in-law also has children with disabilities. This village is completely disabled.”
Another local, Ali Tozun, who is not hearing impaired, painted a sobering picture:
“Most people here live with disabilities. It’s hard for them to cope. They get some support from the government, but the issue isn’t receiving the attention it truly deserves.”
A Global Pattern?
Gökova's situation mirrors that of Dhadkaie, a remote village in the Kashmir region. Home to around 2,800 residents, Dhadkaie is believed to have the highest concentration of deaf individuals in the world.
Locals there have developed their own methods of detecting hearing impairments in newborns. As soon as a baby is born, families bang drums to test for a reaction—a cry, a flinch, or a turn of the head—to gauge if the infant can hear.
Doctors believe Dhadkaie’s deafness epidemic is also rooted in genetic disorders caused by generations of consanguineous marriages. According to government data, at least 83 people—mostly women—are affected by a faulty gene, which has been traced across 55 families in the village.
As investigations continue into the mystery of Gökova, the case raises urgent questions about environmental health, genetic risk factors, and the needs of isolated communities. Whether the root cause lies in water contamination, genetics, or a combination of both, one thing is clear: this tiny village is grappling with a challenge that deserves greater medical and governmental attention.
