Understanding Genetic Hearing Loss: Causes, Types, and Testing

👂🔬Approximately 10% of Canadians have hearing loss, with children accounting for 30 thousand of those cases.

🧬📂Half of hearing loss cases are due to non-genetic factors, while the other half is due to genetic factors or inherited gene variants.

🔍🧬Genetic hearing loss can occur even without a family history of hearing loss.

🧩🤔There are two types of genetic hearing loss: syndromic and non-syndromic. Syndromic hearing loss is associated with other health issues.

🧪🔬The majority of non-syndromic hearing loss cases are caused by variants in the GJB2 gene.

What causes hearing loss?

—Hearing loss can be caused by both genetic and non-genetic factors. Around 50% of cases are due to non-genetic factors like premature birth or infections during pregnancy, while the other 50% are caused by genetic factors or inherited gene variants.

Is genetic hearing loss hereditary?

—Yes, genetic hearing loss can be hereditary. It can be passed down through families even if there is no previous family history of hearing loss.

What is the difference between syndromic and non-syndromic hearing loss?

—Syndromic hearing loss is associated with other health issues or symptoms, while non-syndromic hearing loss is isolated, meaning it is not associated with any other health problems.

How is genetic hearing loss diagnosed?

—Genetic hearing loss can be diagnosed through genetic testing. Testing can identify specific gene variants or errors that are associated with hearing loss.

Can genetic testing determine the chance of other health problems?

—Yes, genetic testing can reveal gene variants that increase the chance of other health conditions developing, even if they are not directly related to hearing loss.

00:01Approximately 10% of Canadians have hearing loss, with 30 thousand being children.

00:0850% of the cases of hearing loss are due to non-genetic factors, while the other 50% are due to genetic factors or inherited gene variants.

00:26Genetic hearing loss can occur even without a family history of hearing loss.

01:01There are two types of genetic hearing loss: syndromic and non-syndromic. Syndromic hearing loss is associated with other health issues or symptoms.

01:36The majority of non-syndromic hearing loss cases are caused by variants in the GJB2 gene.

02:12Genetic testing can help determine the cause of hearing loss and the chance of other health problems.

02:33Genetic testing can reveal specific gene variants or errors associated with hearing loss.

03:13Genetic testing may reveal a variant of uncertain significance, which requires further testing and evaluation.