Auditory Dysfunction in Stickler Syndrome

Abstract

The hypermobile middle ear systems observed in ears with normal-appearing tympanic membranes represent a novel finding for Stickler syndrome and are likely to be a useful diagnostic feature for this disorder. The overall sensorineural hearing loss in type I Stickler syndrome is typically mild and not significantly progressive. It is less severe than that reported for types II and III Stickler syndrome linked to COL11A2 (OMIM 120290) and COL11A1 (OMIM 120280) mutations, respectively, or the closely related Marshall syndrome. This difference will be a useful discriminatory feature in the differential diagnosis of this group of disorders.