Hearing loss can run in families, though your hearing may not follow the same course as a relative’s. At SoundEar Audiology on 2nd Avenue North in Saskatoon, owner and audiologist Puru Ganesan, BSc., MASLP Aud (C), evaluates hearing within the context of your family history to help you understand how genetics may affect your hearing health. 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.
Which Kinds of Hearing Loss Are Caused by Genes?
The kinds of hearing loss caused by genes result from changes that affect how the ear develops or functions. Most genetic hearing loss is sensorineural, meaning it involves the hair cells of the inner ear or the auditory nerve. It may be present at birth or develop later in life.
Audiologists generally divide genetic hearing loss into two 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.
How Are Hearing Loss Genes Passed Down in Families?
Hearing loss genes are passed down in families through several inheritance patterns, and the pattern for the specific gene involved determines each child’s risk. Depending on the pattern, a child’s chance may range from no risk to 50% or higher, and 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.
Does Hereditary Hearing Loss Appear at Birth or Develop Later?
Hereditary hearing loss can appear 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 can make 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 Get Your Hearing Tested in Saskatoon?
You should get your hearing tested as soon as you notice changes, and if hearing loss runs in your family, baseline testing and regular evaluations can help 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. Puru Ganesan can perform a comprehensive hearing assessment, discuss your family history, and recommend how often you should return for follow-up testing. When a genetic cause is suspected, he 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.
What Protects Your Hearing When You Have a Genetic Risk?
Limiting noise exposure, using hearing protection, reviewing medications with your healthcare providers, managing your overall health, and scheduling regular hearing evaluations all protect your hearing when you have a genetic risk of hearing loss.
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 patients should let their 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.
When hearing loss does develop, Puru Ganesan can recommend options such as hearing aids and track changes over time to adjust your care as needed.
Schedule a Hearing Assessment With Puru Ganesan in Saskatoon
If hearing loss runs in your family, a hearing assessment with Puru Ganesan at SoundEar Audiology is a practical first step. The first appointment establishes a baseline and helps determine whether you need treatment now or continued monitoring.
Call or text 306-994-8123 or contact SoundEar Audiology to schedule an appointment at our 2nd Avenue North clinic in Saskatoon.