Database for sensorineural hearing loss.

We are creating a bank of EBV immortalized lymphoblast cells and extracted DNA taken from the blood of deaf children and their relatives, in order to study the molecular basis of hereditary deafness. We have established a corresponding database for sensorineural hearing loss that records clinical data for each entered specimen. The purpose of this paper is to present the content and design of the computerized relational database. The data model is designed first to identify known etiologies of deafness, either acquired or syndromic, and then to characterize the clinical features of the deaf individual, and both their affected and non-affected family members. The application operates in a graphical environment of visual prompts and message panels. The database is organized by sections which record demographic data, presenting complaints, otologic history, birth and perinatal history, developmental history, symptoms of chronic airway obstruction, family history, neurologic history, congenital infections, hospitalizations and surgical history, medication history, vestibular findings, audiometry, radiology, medical conditions and syndromes and physical examination. The database was developed on a commercially available software product. Our database is presented as a model for use by other clinicians and investigators.