Parental attitudes toward genetic testing for prelingual deafness in China.
OBJECTIVE
Recent advances in molecular biology of hearing and deafness have made genetic testing an option for deaf individuals and their families. In China, DNA microarray and other genetic testing method has been applied to rapid genetic diagnosis of non-syndromic hearing loss. However, there is no information about the interests in such testing in China. The purpose of this study is to document the attitudes of parents with normal hearing who have one or more deaf children toward diagnostic, carrier, and prenatal genetic testing for deafness.


METHODS
A structured, self-completion questionnaire was given to delegates at a conference held at Hubei Rehabilitation Research Center for Deaf Children, Wuhan, China on March 3, 2010. Of 366 surveys distributed, 290 were completed and returned.


RESULTS
Ninety-four percent of the respondents had a positive attitude toward genetic testing. Seventy-two percent stated that they were interested in genetic testing of deaf child. Of the individuals who were interested in such testing, 69% would consider having prenatal genetic testing for deafness.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study provided evidence of a predominantly positive attitude toward genetics. Appropriate genetic counseling can help parents to understand the risk, benefits, and limitations of genetic testing for prelingual deafness.
Fu
Siqing
S
Department of Medical Genetics, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
Dong
Jiashu
J
Wang
Chunfang
C
Chen
Guanming
G
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002681:China; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003638:Deafness / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005817:Genetic Counseling / Q000523:psychology; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000523:psychology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult