POU4F1 and deafness: Genes already associated with hearing or deafness (mouse and/or zebrafish) were selected as controls/references for comparison and validation of the candidate genes’ results: Eya4 (DFNA10), Gsdmea (DFNA5), Gsdmeb (DFNA5), Pou4f1, Elavl4, Sclla3a, Gab1 (DFNB26), and Mettl1 (DFNM).