London, Oct 10: While scientists have known for some time that genetic factors play an important role in hearing loss in children, only now they have been able to pinpoint the exact pathways involved.

Researchers at the Medical Research Council Mammalian Genetics Unit claim to have found a 'gene' that could lead to glue ear in minors, a condition that can even lead to complete loss of hearing in them.

The condition, also called otitis media, meaning inflammation of the middle ear, is the most common cause of hearing impairment in children.

Professor Steven Brown, and colleagues studied a mouse with hearing loss, which provided a model of how otitis media affects children.

The Evi1 gene carries the genetic code for a protein that helps to translate other DNA code into instructions for the body. In the Junbo mouse, this appeared to affect the cells that line the middle ear when there is inflammation.

"Because the Junbo mouse provides a model of how otitis media affects children I hope that it will help researchers to figure out new ways to tackle this disease," the BBC quoted Professor Brown, as saying.

"Five million school days are missed every year due to otitis media," Brown added.

In otitis media, the inflammation often begins when infections that cause sore throats, colds, or other breathing problems spread to the middle ear - the part of the ear that lies behind the eardrum. And kids are more prone to it than adults, because they have more trouble fighting infections, partly because their immune systems are still developing.

Also the passageways connecting the ears to the throat are small and can get blocked meaning any fluid cannot drain and will collect in the ear, makes them more susceptible to suffer from it .

Professor Brown and his team's research has been appreciated by doctors all over.

"This is a very exciting development. Further studies would need to be carried out to ascertain whether the gene is a common cause of glue ear in children, but it does yet again highlight the important role genetic factors play in many forms of hearing loss," said Dr Mark Downs of The Royal National Institute for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People.(ANI)