It’s common for hearing loss to run in families, yet relatives who share the same genes don’t always share the same hearing. At Lambton Audiology Associates, Kimberly A. Eskritt, M.Cl.Sc, Au.D., Reg. CASLPO, and Katelyne B. Lebert, M.Cl.Sc., evaluate your hearing with your family history in mind, so you can see how genetics may play a part. Whether you visit our office on London Road in Sarnia or on Petrolia Line in Petrolia, early testing and protective habits can help you preserve your hearing and respond to changes sooner.

What Makes a Case of Hearing Loss Genetic in Origin?

A case of hearing loss is genetic in origin when it’s caused by changes in genes 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.

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.

How Do Genes for Hearing Loss Travel From Parent to Child?

Genes for hearing loss travel from parent to child through one of several inheritance patterns, and the pattern determines each child’s odds. 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. Severity and age of onset can also vary between members of the same family.

Can Inherited Hearing Loss Wait Years Before It Shows?

Inherited hearing loss can wait years before it shows, although it may also be noticeable at birth or during childhood. 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, so it can be 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 pick up on them.

How Soon Should You Book a Hearing Test in Sarnia or Petrolia?

You should book a hearing test as soon as you notice changes in your hearing, and if hearing loss runs in your family, a baseline test and regular evaluations can be worthwhile 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. Kimberly Eskritt or Katelyne Lebert 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 counselling or testing. Currently, no genetic test can predict whether a person will develop age-related hearing loss, which makes regular hearing evaluations especially important.

Which Protective Steps Make Sense With a Family History?

The protective steps that make sense with a family history of hearing loss include 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 matters as well. 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 audiologists can recommend options such as hearing aids and track changes over time to adjust your care as needed.

Arrange a Hearing Evaluation With Lambton Audiology Associates

If hearing loss runs in your family, a hearing evaluation with Kimberly Eskritt, Au.D., or Katelyne Lebert, M.Cl.Sc., is a practical first step. The results give you a baseline and help show whether treatment or ongoing monitoring is the right path.

Call our Sarnia office at 226-210-4283 or our Petrolia office at 226-210-4316, or contact Lambton Audiology Associates to schedule an appointment.