Hearing loss can run in families, though you won’t always be as susceptible as your relatives. At Hearing Care Associates Inc., board-certified hearing aid specialists John Dull, BC-HIS, and Travis Thomley, BC-HIS, evaluate each client’s hearing in light of family history at our offices in Janesville, Portage and Freeport. If hearing loss is a known condition in your family, early testing and protective habits can help you preserve your hearing and address changes sooner.
Where in the Ear Does Genetic Hearing Loss Begin?
Genetic hearing loss most often begins in the hair cells of the inner ear or in the auditory nerve, because most genetic hearing loss is sensorineural. It’s caused by changes in genes that affect how the ear develops or functions, and it may be present at birth or develop later in life.
There are two main categories. Nonsyndromic hearing loss accounts for about 70% of genetic cases and occurs without other medical symptoms. Syndromic hearing loss makes up the remaining 30% and occurs alongside other health conditions, such as Usher, Pendred, and Waardenburg syndromes.
Who Is Most Likely to Inherit Hearing Loss in a Family?
The family members most likely to inherit hearing loss depend on the inheritance pattern of the specific gene involved, and a child’s chance may range from no risk to 50% or higher. In many cases, parents with normal hearing can still have a child with genetic hearing loss.
The main inheritance patterns include:
- Autosomal dominant: Only one changed gene from one parent is needed, giving each child a 50% chance of inheriting the condition.
- Autosomal recessive: Both parents carry one changed gene without having hearing loss themselves, giving each child a 25% chance of inheriting the condition.
- X-linked: The changed gene is on the X chromosome, so males are more likely to be affected, while females are often carriers.
- Mitochondrial: The condition is passed only by the mother and can affect all of her children.
Autosomal recessive inheritance accounts for about 80% of nonsyndromic genetic hearing loss, which explains why most infants with hearing loss are born to parents with normal hearing. Even within the same family, severity and age of onset can vary from one person to another.
Could Hearing Changes in Adulthood Still Be Genetic?
Yes, hearing changes in adulthood can still be genetic, because genetic hearing loss may become noticeable at birth, during childhood, or later in adulthood. Some forms are congenital and identified through newborn hearing screening, while others are progressive and develop gradually over years or decades.
Congenital hearing loss affects up to three in every 1,000 babies, and inherited genetic factors contribute to about 60% of hearing loss in infants. In young children, signs may include not reacting to loud sounds, not turning toward voices, or delays in speech and language development.
Later-onset genetic hearing loss often develops slowly, which makes it easy to overlook. Adults may notice:
- Difficulty following conversations in noisy places
- Asking others to repeat themselves
- Turning up the television or phone volume
- Ringing or buzzing in the ears
Because gradual changes can go unnoticed, family members are often the first to recognize them.
When Should You Have Your Hearing Tested in Janesville?
You should have your hearing tested as soon as you notice changes, and clients with a family history of hearing loss may benefit from baseline testing and regular evaluations even before symptoms appear.
Almost all hospitals screen newborns for hearing loss within the first few days of life. Children who pass newborn screening but have a family history of hearing loss may still benefit from monitoring, since some genetic forms develop later.
For adults, a baseline hearing evaluation provides a reference point for tracking changes over time. John Dull and Travis Thomley can perform a comprehensive hearing test, discuss your family history, and recommend how often you should return for follow-up testing. When a genetic cause is suspected, they may recommend a referral for genetic counseling or testing. Currently, no genetic test can predict whether a person will develop age-related hearing loss, which makes regular hearing evaluations especially important.
How Can You Keep Your Hearing Strong if Relatives Have Hearing Loss?
If relatives have hearing loss, you can keep your hearing strong by limiting noise exposure, using hearing protection, reviewing medications with your healthcare providers, managing your overall health, and scheduling regular hearing evaluations.
Because some genes can make the inner ear more vulnerable to damage, avoiding additional strain is especially important. Wearing earplugs or earmuffs around loud equipment, concerts, or firearms and keeping headphone volume at moderate levels can reduce noise exposure. Some medications can affect hearing, so let your healthcare providers know about a family history of hearing loss before starting new prescriptions.
Overall health also plays a role. Conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes may increase the risk of hearing loss, so managing these conditions supports long-term hearing health.
If hearing loss does develop, our hearing aid specialists can recommend options such as hearing aids and track changes over time to adjust your care as needed.
Schedule a Hearing Test With John Dull or Travis Thomley
If hearing loss runs in your family, a hearing evaluation is a smart first step. Your visit begins with a hearing test that establishes a baseline and helps determine whether immediate treatment or additional monitoring is needed.
Call our Janesville office at 608-752-3529, our Portage office at 608-747-5900, or our Freeport office at 815-239-0010, or contact Hearing Care Associates Inc. to schedule an appointment.
