How Does the "Cookie-Bite" Audiogram Shape Perform in Discriminating Genetic Hearing Loss in Adults?

Abstract

"Cookie-bite" or U-shaped audiograms-specifically, those showing midfrequency sensorineural hearing loss (HL)-are traditionally taught to be associated with genetic HL; however, their utility as a screening tool has not been reported. We aim to determine the performance of a cookie-bite audiogram shape in stratifying patients carrying putative loss-of-function variants in known HL genes from wild-type controls. We merged audiometric and exome sequencing data from adults enrolled in a large biobank at a tertiary care center. Of 321 patients, 50 carried a putative loss-of-function variant in an HL gene. The cookie-bite shape was present in 9 of those patients, resulting in low sensitivity (18%) and positive predictive value (15%) in stratifying genetic carrier status; 84% of patients with a cookie-bite audiogram did not carry a genetic variant. A cookie-bite audiogram should not be used to screen adults for possible genetic testing.