We previously mapped the DFNB17 locus to a 3-4 cM interval on human chromosome 7q31 in a large consanguineous Indian family with congenital profound sensorineural hearing loss. To further refine this interval, 30 new highly polymorphic markers and 8 SNPs were analyzed against the pedigree. Re-analysis in the original DFNB 17 family and additional data from a second unrelated consanguineous family with congenital deafness found to map to the interval, limited the area of shared homozygosity-by-descent (HBD) to approximately 4 megabase (Mb) between markers D7S2453 and D7S525. Nineteen known genes and over 20 other cDNAs have been identified in the refined DFNB 17 interval, including the SLC26A4 gene. We have analyzed 4 other cochlear-expressed genes that map to the DFNB17 interval as candidate genes. Analysis of coding and splice site regions of these cochlear expressed genes did not reveal any disease causing mutations. Further study of other candidate genes is currently underway.