How many generations is hearing loss usually inherited across?

Nov 27, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Lu Cheng

Introduction

In the case of autosomal recessive hereditary deafness, both parents may be carriers of the pathogenic gene without showing symptoms themselves. The pathogenic gene can be passed on to their children; if a child inherits two copies of the pathogenic gene (one from each parent), they may develop the condition. This pattern may appear as skipped-generation inheritance, where the grandparents carry the gene but the symptoms manifest in the grandchildren, and the number of generations involved is not fixed.

Generally, there is no fixed number of generations for hereditary hearing loss to appear. Autosomal recessive inheritance may skip generations, while dominant inheritance tends to be passed down continuously. If concerned, it is advisable to consult a doctor early. Detailed analysis is as follows:

In cases of autosomal recessive hearing loss, both parents may be carriers of the disease-causing gene without showing symptoms themselves. The defective gene can be passed on to their children; if a child inherits two copies of the mutated gene, they may develop hearing loss. This pattern may appear as skipped-generation inheritance—where grandparents carry the gene but symptoms emerge in grandchildren—making the number of generations involved unpredictable.

In cases of autosomal dominant hearing loss, an individual may develop the condition by inheriting just one copy of the disease-causing gene. This gene can be directly transmitted from an affected parent or grandparent to the next generation, potentially resulting in multiple consecutive generations with hearing loss. The number of generations affected typically continues with family lineage and has no clear upper limit.

Individuals with a family history of hearing loss should consider consulting a specialist before conception or during pregnancy to undergo genetic testing. This helps clarify inherited risks, prevents undue anxiety or neglect, and allows for proper assessment of future generations' health.

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