Features of autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing impairment: a review to serve as a reference.

OBJECTIVE: Non-syndromic sensorineural hearing impairment is inherited in an autosomal recessive fashion in 75-85% of cases. To date, 61 genes with this type of inheritance have been identified as related to hearing impairment, and the genetic heterogeneity is accompanied by a large variety of clinical characteristics. Adequate counselling on a patient's hearing prognosis and rehabilitation is part of the diagnosis on the genetic cause of hearing impairment and, in addition, is important for the psychological well-being of the patient. TYPE OF REVIEW: Traditional literature review. DATA SOURCE: All articles describing clinical characteristics of the audiovestibular phenotypes of identified genes and related loci have been reviewed. CONCLUSION: This review aims to serve as a summary and a reference for counselling purposes when a causative gene has been identified in a patient with a non-syndromic autosomal recessively inherited sensorineural hearing impairment.

Audiometric characteristics of a dutch family with a new mutation in GATA3 causing HDR syndrome.

We present the case of a Dutch family with a new mutation (c523_528dup) in GATA3 causing HDR syndrome. HDR syndrome is characterised by hypoparathyroidism, deafness and renal defects. In this study, we describe the audiometric characteristics of 5 patients from this family. Their hearing impairment was congenital, bilateral and symmetric. Audiograms showed mild-to-moderate hearing impairment with a flat audiogram configuration. Higher frequencies tended to be affected more strongly. Cross-sectional analyses showed no progression, and a mean audiogram was established. Psychophysical measurements in 3 HDR patients - including speech reception in noise, loudness scaling, gap detection and difference limen for frequency - were obtained to assess hearing function in greater detail. Overall, the results of the psychophysical measurements indicated characteristics of outer hair cell loss. CT scanning showed no anomalies in 3 of the HDR patients. Although 2 patients displayed vestibular symptoms, no anomalies in the vestibular system were found by vestibulo-ocular examination. Our results are in agreement with the theory that outer hair cell malfunctioning can play a major role in HDR syndrome.

Usefulness of additional measurements of the median nerve with ultrasonography.

High resolution sonography is a relatively new diagnostic technique in diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Normal values in different studies, however, vary and this makes their practical use difficult. The aim of this study was to establish normal values for the median nerve cross-sectional area (CSA) and to investigate the value of measuring additional parameters. Ninety-eight wrists of 29 women and 25 men without signs or symptoms of CTS were included. Width and circumference of the wrist were measured. The CSA of the median nerve at the level of the pisiform bone was measured using ultrasonography. We found a significant correlation between the CSA of the median nerve at the wrist and wrist circumference. Measuring wrist circumference will establish the upper level of normal more accurately compared to predictions solely based upon gender. This has important implications in diagnosing CTS with ultrasonography.

Flat threshold and mid-frequency hearing impairment in a Dutch DFNA8/12 family with a novel mutation in TECTA. Some evidence for protection of the inner ear.

A novel TECTA mutation (c.5331G>A) was identified affecting alpha-tectorin just N-terminally of the zona pellucida domain in a Dutch family with nonsyndromic autosomal dominant sensorineural hearing impairment. The present mutation is clearly associated with a flat-threshold type of hearing impairment. Intriguingly, our results demonstrated that the present TECTA mutation had a significant protective effect against presbyacusis. Substantial protection against presbyacusis is a novel finding in a family with autosomal dominant hearing impairment.

Familial aggregation of tinnitus: a European multicentre study.

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Tinnitus is a common condition affecting approximately 20% of the older population. There is increasing evidence that changes in the central auditory system following cochlear malfunctioning are responsible for tinnitus. To date, few investigators have studied the influence of genetic factors on tinnitus. The present report investigates the presence of a familial effect in tinnitus subjects. METHODS: In a European multicentre study, 198 families were recruited in seven European countries. Each family had at least 3 siblings. Subjects were screened for causes of hearing loss other than presbyacusis by clinical examination and a questionnaire. The presence of tinnitus was evaluated with the question "Nowadays, do you ever get noises in your head or ear (tinnitus) which usually last longer than five minutes". Familial aggregation was tested using three methods: a mixed model approach, calculating familial correlations, and estimating the risk of a subject having tinnitus if the disorder is present in another family member. RESULTS: All methods demonstrated a significant familial effect for tinnitus. The effect persisted after correction for the effect of other risk factors such as hearing loss, gender and age. The size of the familial effect is smaller than that for age-related hearing impairment, with a familial correlation of 0.15. CONCLUSION: The presence of a familial effect for tinnitus opens the door to specific studies that can determine whether this effect is due to a shared familial environment or the involvement of genetic factors. Subsequent association studies may result in the identification of the factors responsible. In addition, more emphasis should be placed on the effect of role models in the treatment of tinnitus.

A mutation in the gamma actin 1 (ACTG1) gene causes autosomal dominant hearing loss (DFNA20/26).

Linkage analysis in a multigenerational family with autosomal dominant hearing loss yielded a chromosomal localisation of the underlying genetic defect in the DFNA20/26 locus at 17q25-qter. The 6-cM critical region harboured the gamma-1-actin (ACTG1) gene, which was considered an attractive candidate gene because actins are important structural elements of the inner ear hair cells. In this study, a Thr278Ile mutation was identified in helix 9 of the modelled protein structure. The alteration of residue Thr278 is predicted to have a small but significant effect on the gamma 1 actin structure owing to its close proximity to a methionine residue at position 313 in helix 11. Met313 has no space in the structure to move away. Moreover, the Thr278 residue is highly conserved throughout eukaryotic evolution. Using a known actin structure the mutation could be predicted to impair actin polymerisation. These findings strongly suggest that the Thr278Ile mutation in ACTG1 represents the first disease causing germline mutation in a cytoplasmic actin isoform.

A genotype-phenotype correlation for GJB2 (connexin 26) deafness.

INTRODUCTION: Mutations in GJB2 are the most common cause of non-syndromic autosomal recessive hearing impairment, ranging from mild to profound. Mutation analysis of this gene is widely available as a genetic diagnostic test. OBJECTIVE: To assess a possible genotype-phenotype correlation for GJB2. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of audiometric data from people with hearing impairment, segregating two GJB2 mutations. SUBJECTS: Two hundred and seventy seven unrelated patients with hearing impairment who were seen at the ENT departments of local and university hospitals from Italy, Belgium, Spain, and the United States, and who harboured bi-allelic GJB2 mutations. RESULTS: We found that 35delG homozygotes have significantly more hearing impairment, compared with 35delG/non-35delG compound heterozygotes. People with two non-35delG mutations have even less hearing impairment. We observed a similar gradient of hearing impairment when we categorised mutations as inactivating (that is, stop mutations or frame shifts) or non-inactivating (that is, missense mutations). We demonstrated that certain mutation combinations (including the combination of 35delG with the missense mutations L90P, V37I, or the splice-site mutation IVS1+1G>A, and the V37I/V37I genotype) are associated with significantly less hearing impairment compared with 35delG homozygous genotypes. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first large systematic analysis indicating that the GJB2 genotype has a major impact on the degree of hearing impairment, and identifying mild genotypes. Furthermore, this study shows that it will be possible to refine this correlation and extend it to additional genotypes. These data will be useful in evaluating habilitation options for people with GJB2 related deafness.

Sensorineural hearing impairment in patients with Pmp22 duplication, deletion, and frameshift mutations.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize and distinguish the types of sensorineural hearing impairment (SNHI) that occur in hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy Type 1a (HMSN-1a) and hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies (HNPP), which are caused by deletion or frameshift mutation. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Ambulatory patients in a university hospital. PATIENTS: Twelve patients with HMSN-1a due to a duplication of the PMP22 gene on chromosome 17p11.2, 16 patients with HNPP due to the common PMP22 deletion (HNPP del), and 11 HNPP patients with a frame shift mutation (heterozygous PMP22 G-insertion) (HNPP mut), all confirmed by molecular genetic analysis. INTERVENTIONS: Pure-tone audiograms and speech audiograms were obtained. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Results of cross-sectional analysis comprising linear regression of hearing threshold on age. RESULTS: Pure-tone audiograms showed mild to moderate SNHI, predominant at the low and the high frequencies. SNHI showed significant progression by approximately 0.4 dB per year at 0.25 to 4 kHz and up to 1 to 2 dB per year at 4 to 8 kHz. Patients with HMSN-1a had substantial, presumably congenital, SNHI but did not show significant progression beyond presbyacusis. Patients with HNPP showed postnatal onset at age 11 years with progression of SNHI in excess of presbyacusis by 0.4 dB per year. All three types of neuropathy showed normal speech recognition. CONCLUSIONS: All three types of neuropathy showed SNHI with normal speech recognition. HMSN-1a showed stable SNHI without progression beyond presbyacusis. HNPP showed progression beyond presbyacusis with postnatal onset. The differences in SNHI may be explained by the differences in PMP22 expression. The progressive SNHI in HNPP might be explained by the liability for exogenous factors associated with this disorder.

[From gene to disease; a progressive cochlear-vestibular dysfunction with onset in middle-age (DFNA9)]. / Van gen naar ziekte; een op middelbare leeftijd optredende progressieve cochleavestibulaire disfunctie (DFNA9).

DFNA9 is an autosomal dominant genetic inner-ear hearing impairment that starts to show itself in the 3rd and 4th decades of life. This hearing impairment may be of a different degree of severity in each ear. Progression of hearing loss is about 3 dB/year. In about one in three patients severe vestibular symptoms similar to those in Ménière's disease are present as a result of a progressive impairment of the vestibular system. Several mutations were found in the COCH-gene on chromosome 14. There are indications that some of the mutations disrupt the folding of the cochlin protein, an important component of the extracellular matrix in the inner ear. DNA-diagnostics confirming the diagnosis ofDFNA9 are possible.

Longitudinal analysis of hearing loss in a case of hemosiderosis of the central nervous system.

OBJECTIVE: To describe cochleovestibular aspects of superficial hemosiderosis of the central nervous system. BACKGROUND: Superficial hemosiderosis of the central nervous system is a rare disease in which cochleovestibular impairment, cerebellar ataxia, and myelopathy are the most frequent signs. Chronic recurrent subarachnoidal hemorrhage with bleeding into the cerebrospinal fluid is the cause of deposition of hemosiderin in leptomeningeal and subpial tissue, cranial nerves, and spinal cord. Removing the cause of bleeding can prevent irreversible damage to these structures. Because this is the only effective treatment, an early diagnosis is crucial. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case review. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENT: A 72-year-old woman with superficial hemosiderosis of the central nervous system that developed when she was age 39. METHODS: Neurologic and imaging diagnostic examinations and longitudinal evaluation of cochleovestibular features were performed. Neurosurgery was not performed. RESULTS: Progressive bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and severe vestibular hyporeflexia developed within 15 years, which can be attributed to lesions in the cochleovestibular system. Additional pathology of the central nervous system developed later. CONCLUSION: The patient demonstrated cochlear and vestibular findings that are typical of this pathologic condition. It is the first documented case with extensive serial audiometry used to precisely outline the degree of hearing deterioration during the course of the disease.

Progressive hereditary hearing impairment caused by a MYO6 mutation resembles presbyacusis.

Since deafness is the most common sensorineural disorder in humans, better understanding of the underlying causes is necessary to improve counseling and rehabilitation. A Dutch family with autosomal dominantly inherited sensorineural hearing loss was clinically and genetically assessed. The MYO6 gene was selected to be sequenced because of similarities with other, previously described DFNA22 phenotypes and a pathogenic c.3610C > T (p.R1204W) mutation was found to co-segregate with the disease. This missense mutation results in a flat configured audiogram with a mild hearing loss, which becomes severe to profound and gently to steeply downsloping later in life. The age-related typical audiograms (ARTA) constructed for this family resemble presbyacusis. Speech audiometry and results of loudness scaling support the hypothesis that the phenotype of this specific MYO6 mutation mimics presbyacusis.

Clinical aspects of an autosomal dominantly inherited hearing impairment linked to the DFNA60 locus on chromosome 2q23.1-2q23.3.

A total of 64 loci for autosomal dominant non-syndromic hearing impairment have been described, and the causative genes have been identified for 24 of these. The present study reports on the clinical characteristics of an autosomal dominantly inherited hearing impairment that is linked to a region within the DFNA60 locus located on chromosome 2 in q22.1-24.1. A pedigree spanning four generations was established with 13 affected individuals. Linkage analysis demonstrated that the locus extended over a 2.96 Mb region flanked by markers D2S2335 and D2S2275. The audiograms mainly showed a distinctive U-shaped configuration. Deterioration of hearing started at a wide age range, from 12 to 40 years. Cross-sectional analysis showed rapid progression of hearing impairment from mild to severe, between the ages of 40 and 60 years, a phenomenon that is also observed in DFNA9 patients. The results of the individual longitudinal analyses were generally in line with those obtained by the cross-sectional analysis. Speech recognition scores related to the level of hearing impairment (PTA1,2,4 kHz) appeared to be fairly similar to those of presbyacusis patients. It is speculated that hearing impairment starting in mid-life, as shown by DFNA60 patients, could play a role in the development of presbyacusis. Furthermore, speech recognition did not deteriorate appreciably before the sixth decade of life. We conclude that DFNA60 should be considered in hearing impaired patients who undergo a rapid progression in middle age and are negative for DFNA9. Furthermore, cochlear implantation resulted in good rehabilitation in two DFNA60 patients.

Audiometric characteristics of two Dutch families with non-ocular Stickler syndrome (COL11A2).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate hearing impairment and cochlear function in non-ocular Stickler syndrome. STUDY DESIGN: Multifamily study. PATIENTS & METHODS: Ten patients from two different families with non-ocular Stickler syndrome (Stickler syndrome type 3) were included. Six members of the first family and four members of the second family participated in this study. Otorhinolaryngologic examinations were performed. Pure-tone and speech audiograms were obtained. Longitudinal analysis was performed. Psychophysical measurements, including loudness scaling, gap detection, difference limen for frequency and speech perception in noise were administered to assess cochlear function at a deeper level. RESULTS: Affected individuals in the first family were carriers of a heterozygous splice donor mutation in the COL11A2 gene. Affected individuals in the second family were carriers of a novel heterozygous missense mutation in COL11A2. Both families showed bilateral, non-progressive hearing impairment with childhood onset. The severity of the hearing impairment exhibited inter- and intrafamilial variability and was mostly mild to moderate. The results of the psychophysical measurements were similar to those previously published for DFNA8/12 (TECTA) and DFNA13 (COL11A2) patients and thus consistent with an intra-cochlear conductive hearing impairment. This is in line with the theory that mutations in COL11A2 affect tectorial membrane function. CONCLUSION: Hearing impairment in non-ocular Stickler syndrome is characterized by non-progressive hearing loss, present since childhood, and mostly mild to moderate in severity. Psychophysical measurements in non-ocular Stickler patients were suggestive of intra-cochlear conductive hearing impairment.

Variable degrees of hearing impairment in a Dutch DFNX4 (DFN6) family.

OBJECTIVE: Investigation of the audiometric characteristics of a large Dutch DFNX4 family with a p.Glu72X mutation in the SMPX gene. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty family members participated in this study and examination consisted of medical history, otoscopy, pure tone and speech audiometry. Linkage and mutation analysis revealed a pathogenic mutation in the SMPX gene. RESULTS: All 25 mutation carriers exhibited hearing impairment, except one woman aged 25 years. The men (n = 10) showed more severe hearing impairment than the women (n = 14) and already at a younger age. The age of onset according to history was 2-10 years (mean: 3.3 years) in men and 3-48 years (mean: 26.4 years) in women. In the men, severe threshold deterioration mainly occurred during the first two decades of life, especially at the higher frequencies. The women showed milder threshold deterioration and more pronounced across-subjects and individual inter-aural variation, especially at 2-8 kHz. Longitudinal linear regression analysis demonstrated significant progression of at least two frequencies in five individuals (3 men and 2 women). The speech recognition scores of the mutation carriers with hearing impairment were decreased at relatively young ages compared to a reference group of patients with only presbycusis, especially in men. However, all these patients tended to have better speech recognition scores than the presbycusis patients at matching PTA(1,2,4 kHz) levels. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the phenotypic heterogeneity in this large family with an X-linked pattern of inherited sensorineural hearing impairment. The men showed more severe hearing impairment at a younger age with more pronounced progression during the first two decades of life, while women demonstrated less severe hearing impairment with more gradual progression and a wider variation in age of onset, degree of hearing impairment and inter-aural asymmetry in thresholds.

Audiometric characteristics of a Dutch family with Muckle-Wells syndrome.

Description of the audiometric and vestibular characteristics of a Dutch family with Muckle-Wells syndrome (MWS). Examination of all family members consisted of pure tone audiometry, otoscopy and genetic analysis. In addition, a selected group underwent speech audiometry, vestibulo-ocular examination, acoustic reflex testing and tests assessing loudness scaling, gap detection, difference limen for frequency and speech perception in noise. Linear regression analyses were performed on the audiometric data. Six clinically affected family members participated in this study and all were carriers of a p.Tyr859His mutation in the NLPR3 gene. Most affected family members reported bilateral, slowly progressive hearing impairment since childhood. Hearing impairment started at the high frequencies and the low- and mid-frequency threshold values deteriorated with advancing age. Annual threshold deterioration (ATD) ranged from 1.3 to 1.9 dB/year with the highest values at the lower frequencies. Longitudinal linear regression analysis demonstrated significant progression for a number of frequencies in five individuals. Speech recognition scores were clearly affected. However, these individuals tended to have higher speech recognition scores than presbyacusis patients at similar PTA(1,2,4 kHz) levels. The loudness growth curves were steeper than those found in individuals with normal hearing, except for one family member (individual IV:6). Suprathreshold measurements, such as difference limen for frequency (DL(f)), gap detection and particularly speech perception in noise were within the normal range or at least close to data obtained in two groups of patients with a so-called conductive type of hearing loss, situated in the cochlea. Hearing impairment in MWS is variable and shows resemblance to previously described intra-cochlear conductive hearing impairment. This could be helpful in elucidating the pathogenesis of hearing impairment in MWS. Other associated symptoms of MWS were mild and nonspecific in the present family. Therefore, even without any obvious syndromic features, MWS can be the cause of sensorineural hearing impairment, especially when combined with (mild) skin rash and musculoskeletal symptoms. An early diagnosis of MWS is essential to prevent irreversible damage from amyloidosis. The effect of IL-1ß inhibitors on hearing impairment is more controversial, but an early start of treatment seems to be essential. Therefore, our results are of importance in patient care and counselling.

Ear and hearing problems in relation to karyotype in children with Turner syndrome.

The aim of the study was to report otologic and audiologic characteristics in a group of children with Turner syndrome (TS) and correlate these findings to karyotype. Additionally, we give recommendations for the otologic care of these children. Sixty children (age 1.7-21.2 years) were included in this retrospective study. Medical history and karyotypes were recorded and otologic and audiologic evaluation was performed. A history of recurrent otitis media was reported in 41/60 (68%) children and 3/60 (5%) had suffered from cholesteatoma. Audiometric data in 56 children revealed that normal hearing was only present in 33/112 (29%) ears. All other ears 79/112 (71%) were classified in five different audiometric categories for hearing loss. Hearing thresholds in general appeared to be about 10-11 dB worse in children with a monosomy 45,X or isochromosome (both have a total deletion of the short (p) arm of the X-chromosome) compared to those having a mosaicism or structural anomaly (partial deletion, or total deletion in only a few cells). Our findings support the hypothesis that hearing can be affected by loss of the p-arm of the X-chromosome. It is for the first time that a relation between hearing problems and karyotype is statistically confirmed in a large group of children with TS.

Serial audiometry and speech recognition findings in Finnish Usher syndrome type III patients.

Audiometric features, evaluated by serial pure tone audiometry and speech recognition tests (n = 31), were analysed in 59 Finnish Usher syndrome type III patients (USH3) with Finmajor/Finmajor (n = 55) and Finmajor/Finminor (n = 4) USH3A mutations. These patients showed a highly variable type and degree of progressive sensorineural hearing impairment: from normal to moderate USH2A-like hearing impairment at young ages to profound or even USH1B-like hearing impairment at more advanced ages. Compound heterozygous patients generally showed a milder phenotype. The highest progression was seen during the first two decades of life, gradually slowing down with further ageing. This type of non-linear progression may be unique amongst the Usher syndromes. Speech recognition started to deteriorate at highly variable ages. In some patients, it jeopardised normal speech and language development, whereas in others it was still remarkably good at advanced ages.