Hearing impairment in connection with preauricular tags

Between 1977 and 1984, 230 newborns (5.4/1,000 livebirths) were registered at the two maternity hospitals of Göteborg as having preauricular tags. Of these 188 were available for hearing assessment. In 10 children (5%) the tag was associated with other malformations of the ear/face region. All these children had hearing impairment (HI), 8 conductive, 1 sensorineural and 1 mixed. In 178 neonates the tag was the only defect. Of these, 23 (13%) were found to have HI, all sensorineural and of mild to moderate degree. In the total group of children a positive family history for HI was found in 29% and for malformation in 24%. In the children where HI was found (33 cases in total) the figures for heredity rose to 67% (HI) and 30% (malformation). In the 23 cases with ear tag and HI, a hereditary tendency for HI was found to be 78%. Accordingly there is a clearly elevated risk for HI in connection with ear tags and we therefore recommend routine hearing assessment in all children with preauricular tags.