Language and speech perception outcomes in hearing-impaired children with and without connexin 26 mutations.
This study addressed the question of whether a hearing loss caused by mutations in the connexin 26 gene had a significant effect on language and speech perception outcomes in children using cochlear implants or hearing aids. The families of children who had participated in two previous studies of language development were invited to participate in this genetic study. From the 52 children whose families agreed to participate, 15 children with connexin 26 mutations in both chromosomes were identified. After taking into account other factors which are known to affect language development and speech perception in children with impaired hearing, no significant differences were found between the 15 children where connexin 26 was known to be the cause of deafness and the other 37 children in the study.
Dahl
Hans-Henrik M
HH
Gene Identification and Expression, Murdoch Childrens' Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Vic., Australia. dahl@cryptic.rch.unimelb.edu.au
Wake
Melissa
M
Sarant
Julia
J
Poulakis
Zeffie
Z
Siemering
Kirby
K
Blamey
Peter
P
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D000072259:Connexin 26; D017630:Connexins / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006310:Hearing Aids; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007804:Language Development; D007807:Language Tests; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D013067:Speech Perception
D017630:Connexins; D000072259:Connexin 26