Abstract: The present study was undertaken to measure a-b, a-d and td ridge counts of deaf patients and to compare the dermatoglyphic differences among deaf individuals. The data consists of 208 heredo-familial Punjabi Khatri and Arora deaf subjects, including 118 males and 90 femeles. The control sample consists of 228 Punjabis, comprising of 128 males and 100 females. The present study indicates lower incidence of 'a-b', 'a-d' and 'td' ridge counts in deaf groups when compared to the corresponding normal groups.

Key words: Ridge counts; a-b; a-d: Td; Deafness