Genetic factors play a significant role in hearing loss, which is the most common birth defect in developed countries. Over 100 genes have been identified that can negatively impact hearing, and hereditary hearing loss can manifest at birth or later in life. While parents with hearing loss genes may pass these on to their children, it does not guarantee the children will experience hearing issues due to the recessive nature of many hearing loss genes.

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Genetic Hearing Loss: An Overview
Undoubtedly injury and illness can cause hearing loss, but could genetics also contribute? The answer to
this question is “Yes.” When you look at the data, genetic factors are actually the main category of hearing
losses. Additionally, hearing loss is considered the most common birth defect in the developed world.
A primer on genetics. Genes are basically pieces of code
that make up our DNA and tell our bodies what to do and
how to look. Researchers have identified over 100 genes
that can negatively affect hearing. If one or even more of
these genes is changed or missing the effect is often
hearing loss. Parental genes are passed to children, so any
irregular gene sequences which produce hearing loss are
handed down.
Genetic hearing loss variations. Genetic hearing losses can
stem from flaws in the inner ear, outer ear or both areas. The hearing loss can be sensorineural,
conductive or mixed. Note that, hereditary hearing loss can present itself at birth or later in life. One of the
most common conditions to affect hearing is Usher syndrome, a condition that is thought to afflict over
50% of deaf-blind individuals according to the National Institutes of Health. Waardenburg syndrome is
another common disorder that affects hearing in the inner ear but also causes pale skin, a streak of white
hair, and light or multi-colored eyes.
Will children inevitably inherit hearing loss? While it’s true that parents with hearing loss genes may pass
them on to their kids, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the children will have a hearing problem. Most
genes related to hearing loss are recessive, which means that even though an individual has an irregular
gene, that gene won’t always cause a problem so long as a normal copy is inherited from the other parent.
Because there are hundreds of distinct genes linked to hearing loss, even if both parents are hearing
impaired, their kids may not be since the parent’s hearing loss could have different root causes. For
parents concerned about a family history of hearing loss, genetic testing and counseling is available.