Swift AUDIOLOGY Celebrating 36+ Years Serving the Greater Pittsburgh Area Dr. Megan Myers-Auria, CCC-A Audiologist 3 Offices Serving the Greater Pittsburgh Area North Hills | South Hills | Washington www.swiftaudiology.com Q: Is hearing loss hereditary? A: Many of our new patients ask if their hearing loss is hereditary? The answer is not a simple yes or no. When you look at hereditary hearing loss it can be categorized into genetic hearing loss and gene mutations that can cause hearing loss in several ways. Some people are born with hearing loss, this is called a congenital hearing loss. Normal age related hearing loss (presbycusis) is estimated to be 35-55% genetic. Other factors include a person's genes can predispose them to the effects of how severe a hearing loss may be. Genes are defined as chemical units found inside cells in our body. The genes are inside the cells and form chromosomes, which are responsible for our DNA and hereditary characteristics. Some of the genes in our ear cells can affect our hearing and determine how the brain understands from the signals that are sent from the nerve of hearing. If a family member has hearing loss, this does not necessarily mean you will experience it as well. Several other factors are associated with a higher likelihood of hearing loss, such as exposure to loud noise, smoking, high blood pressure, heart problems, and diabetes. Another reason you may not experience hearing loss, even if a family member has it, is because not every family member inherits the gene mutation. Call (724) 222-9010 to learn more. https://www.hear-it.org/Genetic-hearing-loss http://www.nationalhearingtest.org/wordpress/?p=879 Swift AUDIOLOGY Celebrating 36+ Years Serving the Greater Pittsburgh Area Dr. Megan Myers - Auria , CCC - A Audiologist 3 Offices Serving the Greater Pittsburgh Area North Hills | South Hills | Washington www.swiftaudiology.com Q : Is hearing loss hereditary ? A : Many of our new patients ask if their hearing loss is hereditary ? The answer is not a simple yes or no . When you look at hereditary hearing loss it can be categorized into genetic hearing loss and gene mutations that can cause hearing loss in several ways . Some people are born with hearing loss , this is called a congenital hearing loss . Normal age related hearing loss ( presbycusis ) is estimated to be 35-55 % genetic . Other factors include a person's genes can predispose them to the effects of how severe a hearing loss may be . Genes are defined as chemical units found inside cells in our body . The genes are inside the cells and form chromosomes , which are responsible for our DNA and hereditary characteristics . Some of the genes in our ear cells can affect our hearing and determine how the brain understands from the signals that are sent from the nerve of hearing . If a family member has hearing loss , this does not necessarily mean you will experience it as well . Several other factors are associated with a higher likelihood of hearing loss , such as exposure to loud noise , smoking , high blood pressure , heart problems , and diabetes . Another reason you may not experience hearing loss , even if a family member has it , is because not every family member inherits the gene mutation . Call ( 724 ) 222-9010 to learn more . https://www.hear-it.org/Genetic-hearing-loss http://www.nationalhearingtest.org/wordpress/?p=879