(1) | Genetic counselling should be available to all families with children with permanent hearing impairment. The only exceptions would be the relatively few families with children with a definite environmental cause, for example, meningitis, congenital rubella. |
(2) | Families given access to genetic counselling do have negative experiences which should be addressed. |
(3) | Approximately half of families with hearing impaired children not offered genetic counselling would like to have been. |
(4) | Children should be investigated systematically, in particular to exclude a syndromal aetiology. There should be an agreed national standard for such an investigation protocol. |
(5) | Genetic counselling should be an ongoing process with the opportunity for follow up appointments and review. |
(6) | There is a need for education about the significance of genetic factors in childhood hearing impairment, both of the public and health care professionals involved in providing services for such families |