Predictive Value of <i>GJB2</i> Mutation Status for Hearing Outcomes of Pediatric Cochlear Implantation

<jats:sec><jats:title>Objective</jats:title><jats:p>To systematically review and quantify current evidence regarding the association of <jats:italic>GJB2</jats:italic> mutation status with outcomes of pediatric cochlear implantation.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Data Sources</jats:title><jats:p>PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched for “GJB2,”“pediatric hearing loss,” and “cochlear implantation” and their synonyms, with no language restrictions, until December 2, 2015.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Review Methods</jats:title><jats:p>Studies were included that investigated the status of <jats:italic>GJB2</jats:italic> mutation and its predictive value for outcomes of pediatric cochlear implantation. Speech recognition scores, Infant‐Toddler Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale, Speech Intelligibility Rating, and Categorized Auditory Performance were pooled using weighted mean differences, and a 95% confidence interval.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria. The differences between <jats:italic>GJB2</jats:italic>‐related deafness and non‐<jats:italic>GJB2</jats:italic>‐related deafness due to unidentified causes and other types of genetic deafness without additional disabilities were not statistically significant (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> =. 15 and <jats:italic>P</jats:italic> =. 30, respectively); however, the difference between <jats:italic>GJB2</jats:italic>‐related deafness and acquired hearing loss due to environmental etiologies was statistically significant and favored <jats:italic>GJB2</jats:italic>‐related deafness (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> =. 03).</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title><jats:p><jats:italic>GJB2</jats:italic>‐related deafness leads to significantly better cochlear implantation outcomes when compared with acquired deafness caused by environmental etiologies. However, <jats:italic>GJB2</jats:italic> mutation is not associated with a significantly better prognosis when compared with those whose deafness results from either nonsyndromic hearing loss of unknown origin or other types of genetic mutations in the absence of other neurologic deficits.</jats:p></jats:sec>