Clinical and Genetic Analysis of Enlarged Vestibular Aqueducts

Nonsyndromic hereditary hearing impairment is a genetically heterogeneous disorder that can be caused by mutations in any one of at least 60 different genes. Enlargement of the vestibular aqueduct (EVA) is a radiologic finding known to be associated with mutations in one of these genes, the Pendred syndrome gene (SLC26A4, formerly known as PDS). EVA may thus serve as a clinically useful marker to facilitate the diagnosis of hearing impairment. Recent data from our laboratory and others indicates that only a subset of individuals with EVA have SLC26A4 mutations, and therefore some EVA cases are likely to be caused by other genes, nongenetic factors, or a combination of these etiologies. Families with two or more individuals with hearing impairment and EVA will be enrolled in this study in order to identify other genetic factors that cause EVA. Siblings and parents may also be enrolled in order to define inheritance and to perform molecular genetic analyses.