Can Hearing Loss Be A Genetic Issue?

If you have hearing loss, there may be a genetic factor to it. Some people inherit hearing issues from one or both parents. Doctors have found that half of the people with hearing loss inherit it from their family. Genetic hearing loss can show up when a child is born, or it can occur later in life.

Types Of Genetic Hearing Loss

There are two types of genetic hearing loss that you may suffer from. These include:

• Conductive hearing loss - Conductive hearing loss is due to a problem with the middle ear. This includes the bones of the middle ear, the eardrum, or the ear canal.
• Sensorineural hearing loss - This hearing loss is a combination of sensorineural hearing loss and conductive hearing. This can mean there is damage to the inner ear, auditory nerve, or the outer or middle ear.

When a person has genetic hearing loss, it is often combined with other conditions. For example, Pendred Syndrome is a genetic disorder that causes issues with balance. It also causes hearing loss.

How Is Genetic Hearing Loss Treated?

If you have confirmed genetic hearing loss, you may wonder if there is a different way to treat the hearing loss. But, they treat genetic hearing loss the same way that they treat non-genetic hearing loss. In some cases, they can use surgery and other treatment options. Hearing aids are also popular in treating hearing loss.

It is imperative to treat hearing loss as soon as possible. The longer that it remains untreated, the higher the risk of brain atrophy. Once brain atrophy begins, it is hard to be able to recover from the hearing loss. Seeing an audiologist that is well experienced with hearing loss will help you hear well.

Finding The Right Hearing Aids

If you have genetic hearing loss, you want to find the hearing aids that work best for the type of hearing loss you have. Seeing an audiologist will help to ensure that you are able to find the hearing aids that work best for you. If you have never used hearing aids, you never want to buy over the counter hearing aids. They can be set at too loud a setting, which can cause your hearing to be worse. They may also be set too low, which will not help you hear at all. An audiologist will be able to show you how to use the hearing aids. They will also show you how to clean them and help you if you have any issues with them.

Call Us Today

At Family Hearing Centers, we are here to help you with all your hearing needs, no matter if it is genetic or not. Give us a call today to set up an appointment with one of our knowledgeable hearing care specialists.