There are innumerable factors affecting a person’s hearing abilities, from ear infections or head injuries to loud noise exposure (noise-induced hearing loss) and ageing. While some of these are temporary or preventable, others are permanent and unpreventable. Genetics or hereditary hearing problems are one among them that are neither reversible (in most cases) nor preventable. One can only treat such hearing issues using advanced hearing loss treatment solutions, like digital hearing aids, assistive listening devices, cochlear implants, or other surgical procedures.

In this article, we will understand genetic hearing loss, discuss its types, and take a look at how it’s passed down through families. We will also discuss how an individual can find out whether their hearing loss is genetic and what treatment options are available to address their unique hearing challenges. For in-depth knowledge about hereditary hearing loss and customised treatment solutions, visit a reputable hearing aid clinic in India.

What is Genetic Hearing Loss?

Genetic hearing loss, or hereditary hearing loss, is an auditory condition that runs through generations of families. An offspring may be partially or completely hearing impaired when one or both parents have hearing loss, and they may pass down the condition to their kids through their genes.

Hearing loss may be of two types: congenital and acquired. When a child has hearing problems at birth, it is known as congenital hearing loss. However, some types of genetic hearing problems may develop at a later stage in life due to the presence of genetic conditions. This condition is termed acquired hearing loss.

While there can be other causes of acquired hearing loss, such as noise exposure, chronic ear infections, trauma, or illness, it may also result from genetic factors. Such late-onset genetic hearing loss may appear in the teen years or adulthood, often because the genetic mutation was present at birth and manifests later in life, sometimes due to environmental triggers.

Moreover, hereditary hearing loss can be either syndromic or non-syndromic. Syndromic hearing loss (which is less common, found in 20-30% of the cases) occurs due to the presence of medical conditions, such as vision or balance (vestibular) problems. On the other hand, non-syndromic hearing loss is the more common type (found in nearly 70-80% of the cases), and it develops on its own, irrespective of the presence of any health condition.

How is Genetic Hearing Loss Inherited?

The process of how hearing loss is passed down to the child depends on the genes of one or both parents.

• Autosomal Dominant Inheritance: If one parent carries the gene causing hearing loss, there is a 50% chance that it will be passed down to the offspring. In such scenarios, many individuals tend to lose their hearing later in adulthood.
• Autosomal Recessive Inheritance: When both parents carry the gene causing hearing loss, the child will either be born deaf or lose their hearing in adolescence or teenage years.
• X-linked Inheritance: Although this is less common, it occurs when the gene causing hearing loss is present on the X chromosome.
• Mitochondrial Inheritance: This is the rarest of all and is inherited from the mother only, though it may affect both male and female offspring.

Signs to Identify Your Hearing Loss is Hereditary

There may be several causes of hearing loss, such as infections, noise exposure, illness, outer or middle ear structural defects, trauma, or ageing. But to learn whether your hearing problems are linked to your genes, here are some genetic hearing loss symptoms and red flags you should watch out for.

• A family history of hearing loss, particularly in parents, grandparents, siblings, or close relatives.
• Deafness is present at birth, or it has developed gradually in early childhood or adolescent years.
• Both ears have hearing loss, often of the same degree or severity.
• Similar hearing loss patterns across several generations in the family.
• There are indications of delayed speech or language development in young children (not meeting the age-appropriate developmental milestones).
• There is no indication or history of loud noise exposure, ear infections, underlying medical conditions, head injury, or medication side effects.

In other words, if an individual’s hearing loss develops gradually without any clear cause, it may be inherited from one or more family members.

5 Steps to Find Out If Your Hearing Loss is Hereditary

In India, the best way to identify whether your hearing loss is genetic is to consult an audiologist at a hearing aid clinic in India, where you may be required to undergo a series of hearing diagnostic tests.

Step 1: Document Your Family History of Hearing Loss

Talk to your parents, grandparents, and close relatives before visiting the clinic. Note down if any of them lost their hearing at an early age or in adulthood without any clear reason. Record if any of your family members wear hearing aids.

Step 2: Rule Out Environmental Causes

Consider other common factors of hearing loss, like noise exposure, underlying medical conditions, recurrent ear infections (including otitis media), head injuries or trauma, medications, etc., which could be the probable cause of your hearing problems.

Step 3: Consult an Audiologist

To learn about your hearing loss causes and intensity, seek a professional hearing aid consultation from a qualified audiologist. The professional will conduct some diagnostic tests to examine your hearing loss and determine the underlying causes. Also, discuss your family history of hearing loss (if any).

Step 4: Consider Specialised Genetic Counselling

When hearing tests like Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA), Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE), and Brainstem Evoked Response (BERA/AABR) cannot detect noise exposure, infections, illness, structural defects, or medication as the causes, the person may be referred to a genetic counsellor, where specialised genetic hearing screening tests are performed.

Step 5: Saliva or Blood Tests

Genetic testing often involves a simple test using a cheek swab or small blood sample, which is sent to the laboratory to evaluate any gene mutations, such as GJB2, OTOF, or SLC26A4. These tests are becoming more accessible and affordable across various Indian cities.

Key Takeaway

If you are diagnosed with genetic hearing loss, don’t worry, as you are not alone! Reap the benefits of digital hearing aids or other advanced hearing loss treatment options, such as bone-anchored hearing devices (BAHA), assistive listening devices, cochlear implants, and speech and language therapy.

Always seek expert advice and guidance from a reputed hearing aid clinic in India, and check whether the clinic is offering a good variety of diagnostic tests using state-of-the-art equipment. In addition, ensure that all the tests and hearing aid trials are conducted by qualified audiologists who have specialisation and expertise in diagnosing and treating pediatric hearing loss.