Genetics and Babies and Hearing Loss; Ontario has a World’s First Screening Program (2023)

In 2019, Ontario became the first place worldwide to add hearing loss risk factors to the dried blood spot collected from infants at birth. One of those risk factors was recessive genetic mutations. Come join me to find out how we got here, what we learned, and where we’re going.

• Explain the rationale behind adding recessive genetic mutations to the Hearing Loss Risk Factor Screening in Ontario.
• Describe the care pathways for the positive genetic cases.
• Summarize the outcome of the first 2 years of Hearing Loss Risk Factor Screening for Genetic Mutations.