Are Hearing Loss and Deafness Genetic?

Hearing loss that’s present at birth can happen because of genetic or environmental factors (like illness or injury to the mother of the baby). Here are some of the most common causes, broken down

1. Genetic Causes: Is deafness hereditary? It definitely can be. Some children are born with hearing loss because of genes passed down from their parents. In fact, about 50–60% of hearing loss at birth is contributed to genes. Genetic changes can affect the ear's structure or how the brain processes sounds.
2. Environmental Causes: External factors like infections (e.g., cytomegalovirus or meningitis) during pregnancy or childhood can cause hearing loss. Babies born prematurely might also be at higher risk.
3. Combination of Genetic and Environmental Factors: Sometimes, hearing loss happens because of both genetic changes and outside events, like exposure to certain medications that can cause hearing loss when combined with a specific genetic predisposition.

Hearing loss in babies is often detected through a newborn hearing screening, which is quick, easy, and non-invasive. This can be done while the baby sleeps, usually taking just a few minutes. By one month of age, all babies should be screened.

There are two common screening methods:

• Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE): This checks the inner ear’s response to sound.
• Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR): This checks the brain’s response to sound.

If a baby doesn’t pass the screening, they should get a full hearing test by three months of age to confirm whether or not there is hearing loss.

Healthcare providers start by gathering information about the person's family history and any other medical details. Based on this, they’ll look at the type of hearing loss and may ask for further tests, including genetic testing, to determine the exact cause.

If you're worried about your child's hearing, early detection and intervention are key, so be sure to get regular screenings and seek help if you notice any signs of hearing issues.