Is Hearing Loss Hereditary?
Your Genetics Can Play a Role in Hearing Loss
Just like hair and eye color, certain health traits can be passed on to children from their parents’ genes. This can include hearing loss.
Genetic hearing loss is a leading cause of hearing problems in newborns but can appear at any stage of life.1 There are two main types: syndromic or non-syndromic.2
Syndromic Hearing Loss
Syndromic hearing losses occur alongside other health conditions. For example, Usher syndrome affects both vision and hearing.Non-Syndromic Hearing Loss
Non-syndromic, on the other hand, doesn’t occur with other medical conditions or symptoms and only impacts hearing. It makes up about 70% of genetic hearing loss cases.
Genes That Affect Inner-Ear Function
Some genetics are tied to the function of the inner ear, including the hearing organs and the nerves associated with hearing.
When these genes don’t function as they should, the ear may have a hard time sending sound signals to the brain.
Here are two genes that can have an impact on hearing health:
GJB2
This gene helps ear cells communicate. If it mutates (changes), the cells can’t work together correctly, which can lead to hearing loss.3SLC26A4
This gene helps the body make pendrin, a protein that has an impact on balance and inner-ear fluid levels4. If this gene changes, pendrin may not work properly and hearing loss can occur.4
Inherited vs. Spontaneous Mutations
Hearing loss can be inherited, which means it is passed down from parents to children through their genes.
However, hearing loss can also be from a gene mutation that he parents don’t have. That is called spontaneous or “de novo” mutation.5
Family History and Predisposition
Common Hereditary Hearing Conditions
Congenital hearing loss
The word congenital means a condition is present at birth. A newborn hearing screening is often done to determine if hearing loss is present before the parents and baby leave the hospital.6
This initial test doesn’t determine the cause but can let the doctors and parents know if hearing loss is a concern.6 Screenings are often used to determine whether further testing is necessary.Late-onset genetic hearing loss in adults
More than 100 gene mutations are linked to hearing loss only and no other medical issues. About 30 of those are passed down in families and are linked to adult or progressive hearing loss.7
In adults, genetics may explain 25–55% of hearing loss, but exact numbers are hard to know without genetic testing and if age and other environmental factors are also involved.7
The Difference Between Genetic and Acquired Hearing Loss
Hearing loss has many different causes and is usually identified as genetic or acquired. As explained above, genetic hearing loss is passed through family genes and present at birth.
But hearing loss can also develop after birth, later in life without a genetic link. This is known as acquired hearing loss. Here are the 4 top causes:
1. Noise exposure
2. Lifestyle habits
3. Aging and long-term ear health
4. Illness and medication effects
Can You Prevent or Manage Hereditary Hearing Loss?
Early Monitoring and Hearing Tests
Just like regular preventive care, regular hearing checkups can catch changes early or before you notice them, making them easier to treat.
Hearing care specialists at HearUSA, for example, provide hearing screenings, help you understand your hearing loss, and find solutions that fit your individual needs and lifestyle.
Hearing Aids and Assistive Devices
If you’ve been diagnosed with hearing loss, managing it properly is key to protecting the hearing you have left, though hearing aids cannot prevent hearing loss from progressing.
Modern hearing aids, a cochlear implant, and assistive listening devices (ALDs) like FM systems and hearing loops can help amplify sound, make communication easier, and alert you to important sounds.
All of these tools make listening easier and keep your brain effectively and naturally processing sound.
Healthcare and Habits
Just as with acquired hearing loss, the right care and lifestyle habits can help you protect your long-term hearing even if genetics plays a role.
Working with a hearing specialist, getting regular hearing/health checkups, managing chronic conditions, exercising, and avoiding smoking, alcohol, and loud noise all support better hearing health.
When to Get a Hearing Test or Genetic Screening
You may be wondering if you should get a regular hearing test or if genetic screening is the better option.
Hearing tests are appropriate for anyone who notices changes in their hearing. They show how well you hear different sounds and help identify the type and level of hearing loss.
Genetic testing can provide additional, deeper information, but it’s not needed for everyone. When appropriate, it can help:
- Confirm whether a genetic change is contributing to your hearing loss, which can offer more insight into your medical and family history.
- Guide treatment, especially for progressive hearing loss.
- Help you understand your chances of having a child with hearing loss, if you’re planning a family.
Signs to Watch For
Have trouble hearing in noisy environments.
Frequently ask people to repeat themselves.
Often turn up the TV louder than others prefer.
Think everyone is mumbling when they talk.
Have ringing in your ears (not always a sign of hearing loss).
Have a strong family history of hearing loss and want to know if a gene change is the cause.
Benefits of Early Diagnosis
Just like with other health conditions, finding hearing changes earlier rather than later makes it easier to treat, as there are often more solutions available to you. Treating hearing loss as soon as possible can help make communication easier and help protect your remaining hearing and overall health for the long term
A hearing test is simple and painless and usually takes about an hour. In a soundproof room, you’ll listen for sounds through headphones and a specialist will track your hearing. Genetic screening involves sending a cheek swab or blood sample to a lab to look for specific gene changes linked to hearing loss.
Take the Next Step in Your Hearing Health
FAQs
If my parent has hearing loss, will I?
Can hereditary hearing loss skip a generation?
Is hereditary hearing loss always present at birth?
Can lifestyle changes reduce risk?
Sources:
1 Boston Medical Center: Genetic Hearing Loss (2025): bmc.org/patient-care/conditions-we-treat/db/genetic-hearing-loss
2 The Better Hearing Society: Genetics and Hearing Loss: A Comprehensive Overview (June 19, 2025): hearingsociety.org/2025/06/19/genetics-and-hearing-loss-a-comprehensive-overview/
3 National Library of Medicine: Nonsyndromic hearing loss (February 1, 2016): medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/nonsyndromic-hearing-loss/
4 Austra Health: SLC26A4 gene: (September 14, 2023): austrahealth.com.au/slc26a4-gene.html
5 Science of Bio Genetics: Understanding Genetic Hearing Loss – Causes, Treatments, and Prevention (December 20, 2023): Strategiesscienceofbiogenetics.com/articles/understanding-genetic hearing-loss-causes-treatments-and-prevention-strategies
6 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: About the Types of Hearing Loss: ( May 15, 2024): cdc.gov/hearing-loss-children-guide/parents-guide-genetics/about-the-types-of-hearing-loss.html
7 National Library of Medicine: Hearing Loss in Adults (April 10, 2019): pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6457651/
8 National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders : Age-Related Hearing Loss (Presbycusis) (February 2023): nidcd.nih.gov/health/age-related-hearing-loss#3
9 Sound Scouts: What Kind Of Viruses Cause Hearing Loss? (June 16, 2020): soundscouts.com/au/blog/viruses-and-hearing-loss/.
10 Royal National Institute for Deaf People: Types and causes of hearing loss and deafness (September 4, 2025): rnid.org.uk/information-and-support/hearing-loss/types-of-hearing-loss-and-deafness/ototoxic-drugs-and-hearing-loss
11 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: About Genetics and Hearing Loss (May 15, 2024) cdc.gov/hearing-loss-children-guide/parents-guide-genetics/about-genetic-testing.html
