Is Hearing Loss Hereditary?

Everything You Need to Know About Hereditary Hearing Loss

If you or someone you love is experiencing hearing loss, you’re not alone. In Australia, it’s estimated 3.6 million people are living with some level of hearing loss.¹ While noise exposure is the biggest cause of preventable hearing loss, genetic factors can also play a role.²

If you’ve ever wondered if hearing loss is something you can inherit, the short answer is yes. However, genes aren’t the only factor to consider when it comes to hearing loss. In this blog, we’ll explore how hereditary hearing loss works and what you can do to protect your hearing health.

Understanding Hereditary Hearing Loss

Hereditary hearing loss refers to an auditory condition passed down through families.³ Through their genes, one or both parents may pass the condition down to their children. When genetic hearing loss leads to hearing issues that present at birth, it’s called congenital hearing loss.⁴ Acquired hearing loss refers to hearing loss that develops later in life.⁵

Genetic hearing loss is categorised into two main types: non-syndromic and syndromic hearing loss.⁶ Non-syndromic hearing loss occurs when a genetic mutation leads to hearing loss.⁶ In this instance, there are no other signs, symptoms, or medical conditions that affect one’s hearing. As the most common form of genetic hearing loss, it’s estimated that it accounts for 70% of all cases.⁷

In contrast, syndromic hearing loss refers to hearing loss that occurs alongside other health conditions.⁶ According to the American Academy of Audiology, up to 30% of hereditary hearing impairments are syndromic.⁸

How Genetics Influence Hearing Loss

The DNA that makes up our genes provide a roadmap for bodily development and function. When gene mutations occur, these instructions are altered, thereby affecting our development.³

Hereditary hearing loss occurs when there are gene mutations that affect the development, structure, and function of the auditory system.³ When our parents have these specific genetic mutations, they may be passed down and result in hereditary hearing loss.

For acquired hearing loss that occurs later in life, studies suggest genes play a part in this, too. In fact, an estimated 35-55% of age-related hearing loss is said to be influenced by genetics.⁹ Though the research is far from concrete, one study found that the risk of age-related hearing loss can be linked to 54 specific genes and the way they interact with environmental factors.¹⁰

Other genetic influences that can contribute to an increased risk of hearing loss include health conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes.³

Signs and Symptoms of Hereditary Hearing Loss

When it comes to the general signs of hearing loss, these symptoms can vary between children and adults.¹¹ Consider the signs for each below.

Signs of hearing loss in adults

• Asking people to repeat themselves
• Difficulty understanding speech in noisy environments
• Needing to turn up the volume on devices

Signs of hearing loss in children

• Failure to respond to sound
• Unclear speech
• Delayed speech and language development
• Responding inappropriately to questions
• Academic difficulties

What Can You Do?

Currently, there is no genetic testing available to determine increased risk of age-related hearing loss or congenital hearing loss. As a result, early detection and treatment is important to ensure your hearing health is protected and you can get back to connecting with the people and world around you.

If you think you may be experiencing hearing loss, book a visit to your local Connect Hearing clinic. Our friendly team will check your hearing and help you manage any concerns so you can be confident in your hearing health.

References:

1. Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care (14 May 2024), About ear health, www.health.gov.au, accessed 10 February 2025.
2. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (16 March 2022), Noise-Induced Hearing Loss, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, accessed 10 February 2025.
3. GeneReviews (14 February 1999), Genetic Hearing Loss Overview, National Library of Medicine, accessed 10 February 2025.
4. American Speech-Language Hearing Association (n.d.), Hearing Loss at Birth (Congenital Hearing Loss), www.asha.org, accessed 10 February 2025.
5. American Speech-Language Hearing Association (n.d.), Hearing Loss After Birth (Acquired Hearing Loss), www.asha.org, accessed 10 February 2025.
6. Centre for Genetics Education (1 July 2019), Fact Sheet: Deafness and Hearing Loss, NSW Government Department of Health, accessed 10 February 2025.
7. The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics (6 November 2004), Hereditary Non-Syndromic Sensorineural Hearing Loss, National Library of Medicine, accessed 10 February 2025.
8. American Academy of Audiology (n.d.), Syndromic Hearing Loss, www.audiology.org, accessed 10 February 2025.
9. Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery (June 1999), Genetic Associations in Age-Related Hearing Thresholds, JAMA Network, accessed 10 February 2025.
10. Genome Medicine (11 May 2023), Sex differences in the polygenic architecture of hearing problems in adults, Genome Medicine, accessed 10 February 2025.
11. Health Direct (n.d.), Hearing Loss, www.healthdirect.gov.au, accessed 10 February 2025.