Ethnic Differences in Parental Perceptions of Genetic Testing for Deaf Infants

Overview

Journal J Genet Couns

Publisher Wiley

Specialty Genetics

Date 2007 Oct 24

PMID 17952575

Citations 12

Authors

Christina G S Palmer

Ariadna Martinez

Michelle Fox

Yvonne Sininger

Wayne W Grody

Lisa A Schimmenti

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

As genetic testing becomes an integral part of the evaluation of deaf infants and children, it is important to understand parental views on genetic testing. The purpose of this study is to examine parental reasons for, and beliefs about, genetic testing for deafness in early-identified infants, and to determine if they differ as a function of ethnicity. We present baseline data collected from 56 Caucasian, 59 Hispanic, and 24 Asian parents of deaf children participating in a longitudinal, prospective study on genetic testing for connexin-related deafness. The overall finding is that reasons for, and beliefs about, genetic testing for deafness varied as a function of ethnicity. Virtually all parents sought genetic testing to understand why their child is deaf. However, Asian and/or Hispanic parents were more likely than Caucasian parents to view family planning, helping with their child's medical care, and helping the family as other important reasons for testing, and were more likely than Caucasian parents to perceive genetic testing to be useful for these purposes. Asian and Hispanic parents were more likely than Caucasian parents to perceive genetic testing in harmful terms. Genetic testing fulfills a cognitive need for parents to understand why their child is deaf, yet differences in responses suggest that Asian and Hispanic parents may seek testing for other purposes. Understanding different perspectives on genetic testing for deafness will enhance genetic counselors' cultural competence and facilitate the pre-test genetic counseling session.

Citing Articles

Barriers, motivators and strategies to increase participation in genetic research among Asian and Black families of autistic individuals.

Tafolla M, Amador R, Oyeyemi M, Algaze Z, Pandey J, Goin-Kochel R J Community Genet. 2024; 15(5):559-572.

PMID: 39136857 PMC: 11549258. DOI: 10.1007/s12687-024-00724-9.

Latinx attitudes, barriers, and experiences with genetic counseling and testing: A systematic review.

Dron H, Bucio D, Young J, Tabor H, Cho M J Genet Couns. 2022; 32(1):166-181.

PMID: 36301246 PMC: 10091969. DOI: 10.1002/jgc4.1632.

Genetic counseling and testing for Asian Americans: a systematic review.

Young J, Mak J, Stanley T, Bass M, Cho M, Tabor H Genet Med. 2021; 23(8):1424-1437.

PMID: 33972720 DOI: 10.1038/s41436-021-01169-y.

Choices, attitudes, and experiences of genetic screening in Latino/a and Ashkenazi Jewish individuals.

Reed-Weston A, Espinal A, Hasar B, Chiuzan C, Lazarin G, Weng C J Community Genet. 2020; 11(4):391-403.

PMID: 32382939 PMC: 7475159. DOI: 10.1007/s12687-020-00464-6.

"My Plate is Full": Reasons for Declining a Genetic Evaluation of Hearing Loss.

Lesperance M, Winkler E, Melendez T, Yashar B J Genet Couns. 2017; 27(3):597-607.

PMID: 28980162 DOI: 10.1007/s10897-017-0149-9.

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