Initial sequencing of seven known hearing loss genes (WFS1 [OMIM 606201], GRHL2 [OMIM 608576], EYA4 [OMIM 603550], ACTG1 [OMIM 102560], GJB2 [OMIM 121011], MYO6 (exon 25) [OMIM 600970], and SLC26A4 [OMIM 605646]) failed to identify any mutations, prompting us to perform a genome-wide linkage analysis to identify the responsible locus for the hearing impairment in the family. The gene discussed is GJB2; the disease is Hearing impairment.