Hearing loss in the nonocular Stickler syndrome caused by a COL11A2 mutation

Evaluation of hearing impairment as a feature of the nonocular Stickler syndrome (type II) linked to COL11A2.

Family study.

General, orthopaedic, ophthalmologic, and otorhinolaryngologic examinations were performed on 15 affected persons in a Dutch family. Audiograms were obtained and/or retrieved from elsewhere. Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses were conducted on the hearing threshold (sensorineural component) in relation to the patient's age to evaluate whether hearing impairment was progressive.

Mixed hearing loss, i.e., including a substantial air-bone gap of up to 20 to 60 dB, was present in six cases, concomitantly with a submucous or overt cleft palate in five of them. The audiograms in 14 evaluable cases showed the following types of threshold: U-shaped (n = 3), flat (n = 2), flat or gently (downward) sloping (n = 3), gently sloping (n = 3), or steeply sloping (n = 3). Cross-sectional analysis did not reveal any significant effect of age on sensorineural hearing impairment.

In contrast to the classic Stickler syndrome (type I) with high myopia, this nonocular type shows a high prevalence of sensorineural hearing impairment. The mean sensorineural hearing threshold in our patients was about 40 dB HL (95% CI, 15-65 dB) and was liable to increase (presumably by presbycusis) by several tens of decibels at the highest frequencies. Given the tendency for otitis media to develop in many of these patients, appropriate otologic care is of major importance.