Hearing loss can run in families, though you won’t always be as susceptible as your relatives. At High Point Audiological, audiologists Michelle Novakovich, Au.D., and Karen Sikes, Au.D., along with hearing instrument specialist Jessica Hepfner, HIS, can evaluate your hearing within the context of your family history at our High Point and Kernersville offices. If hearing loss is a known condition in your family, early testing and protective habits should be a priority, so you can preserve your hearing and address changes sooner.
How Do Changes in Our Genes Lead to Hearing Loss?
Changes in genes lead to hearing loss when they 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.
Genetic hearing loss is generally divided 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.
Which Inheritance Patterns Pass Hearing Loss to Children?
Four main inheritance patterns pass hearing loss to children, and each one carries a different level of 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.
These 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.
Do Signs of Genetic Hearing Loss Appear in Infancy or Adulthood?
Signs of genetic hearing loss can appear in infancy, during childhood, or in adulthood, depending on the form. 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 Is a Hearing Test in High Point or Kernersville a Good Idea?
A hearing test is a good idea as soon as you notice changes in your hearing, and if you have a family history of hearing loss, 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. Michelle Novakovich, Karen Sikes, or Jessica Hepfner 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, our audiologists 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 Hearing Loss Runs in the Family?
When hearing loss runs in the family, you can protect your hearing 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.
When hearing loss does develop, our hearing care team can recommend options such as hearing aids and track changes over time to adjust your care as needed.
Talk With Michelle Novakovich, Au.D., About Your Family History
If hearing loss runs in your family, a hearing evaluation with Michelle Novakovich, Karen Sikes, or Jessica Hepfner gives you a clear place to start. Your first visit establishes a baseline and helps determine whether treatment or continued monitoring suits your situation.
Call or text our High Point office at 336-932-8815 or our Kernersville office at 336-920-3399, or contact High Point Audiological to schedule an appointment.
