The validity of family history as a risk factor in pediatric hearing loss
Carlie Driscoll1, Rachael Beswick2, Eloise Doherty1
1University of Queensland, Hearing Research Unit for Children, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.
Insights
A family history of childhood hearing loss is common but has a low yield for identifying congenital and postnatal hearing impairments. Early screening and monitoring are recommended, but more efficient surveillance methods are needed.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Audiology
- Genetics of Hearing Loss
- Public Health Screening
Background:
- Family history of permanent childhood hearing loss is a known risk factor.
- The validity and efficiency of this risk factor have been under-examined.
- Understanding familial patterns is crucial for effective pediatric hearing loss management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence and yield of family history as a risk factor for congenital and postnatal hearing loss.
- To characterize the audiometric features of hearing loss in children with a positive family history.
- To analyze the familial relationships associated with pediatric hearing loss.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study of 380,895 children born in Queensland, Australia (2004-2011).
- Inclusion criteria: completion of newborn hearing screening.
- Data analysis focused on prevalence, audiometric characteristics, and familial relationships.
Main Results:
- The risk factor prevalence was 1.09%, with higher rates in postnatal (36.84%) versus congenital (7.29%) cases.
- Yield was low for both congenital (1.43%) and postnatal (1.7%) hearing loss.
- Congenital losses varied in degree (predominantly sensorineural), while postnatal losses were mostly mild (predominantly conductive).
- Maternal/sibling links were common for congenital, and maternal/paternal for postnatal losses.
Conclusions:
- Children with a family history of hearing loss require birth screening and ongoing monitoring.
- The low yield necessitates exploring more efficient surveillance strategies.
- Family history is a significant but not universally predictive indicator of pediatric hearing loss.
Objectives:
A family history of permanent childhood hearing loss is considered a risk factor for pediatric hearing loss, although its validity has been sparsely examined. This study aimed to: (1) investigate the prevalence and yield of this risk factor for congenital and postnatal hearing losses, (2) define the audiometric characteristics of hearing loss in children with positive family histories, and (3) assess the nature of the familial relationships.
Method:
A retrospective cohort study including all children born in Queensland, Australia between September 2004 and December 2011 who had completed Healthy Hearing's newborn hearing screen (n=380,895).
Results:
(1) Prevalence of the risk factor was 1.09% (4138/380,895). Prevalence of the risk factor in congenital cases was 7.29% and in postnatal cases was 36.84%. A low yield was identified for both congenital and postnatal groups (1.43% and 1.7%, respectively). (2) The degree of loss in congenital cases was highly varied, whereas the predominant degree in postnatal cases was mild. The most frequent type of loss for congenital cases was sensorineural, whereas for postnatal cases it was conductive. (3) Maternal or sibling relationships were most commonly reported for congenital losses, and maternal or paternal relationships for postnatal losses.
Conclusions:
Children with a family history of pediatric hearing loss should have their hearing screened at birth and be monitored throughout early childhood. However, more efficient surveillance methods should be considered in view of the high prevalence with low yield.
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