Mother’s Day is right around the corner, here is some important information you should know about your Mother’s hearing health.

11 May , 2018

Mother’s Day is right around the corner, here is some important information you should know about your Mother’s hearing health.

Physical similarities between family members are often all too easy to spot. Maybe you have your mother’s smile or your father’s sparkly eyes. You may even have been told you share a resemblance with someone in the family from generations ago. But what about those genetic similarities that you can’t see, such as a shared risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis or hearing loss? If you haven’t gotten the skinny on your family’s medical history, it’s a good idea to start asking questions. Here’s why:

It’s important to know:

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), knowing your family’s history of chronic disease is the first step toward reducing your risk of developing it, too. The CDC recommends making a list of immediate family members, then asking them if they’ve had any chronic or serious diseases as well as what age they developed it. Once you know the answers, share it with other family members and your family physician. This information can help your doctor determine which screening tests you need and at what age these screenings should begin.

But don’t stop there. Once you know your risks, take steps to reduce them. Eating a balanced diet, getting regular exercise and not smoking are all ways to improve your overall health. Work with your family doctor to identify what you can do to minimize your chances of following in your family’s footsteps.

Family history and hearing loss:

The same goes for hearing loss. If your parents or grandparents lost their hearing at an early age or have always had trouble with balance or dizziness, it’s important to know why. Some types of hearing loss are the result of age or exposure to excessive noise. Others, like the following disorders, can be hereditary.

Otosclerosis:

Otosclerosis is the abnormal bone growth of the middle ear, which usually affects the stapes bone. Symptoms of the disorder include gradual hearing loss, most often difficulty hearing low-pitched sounds. Others may experience dizziness, balance issues or tinnitus.

The odds of developing otosclerosis vary depending upon the family’s history with the disease and is often passed down from parent to child. Children who have one parent with otosclerosis have a 25 percent chance of developing the disease. The risk rises to 50 percent if both parents have the disease. White, middle-aged women are most at risk.

The disorder typically causes conductive hearing loss, which can often be corrected with surgery. Less commonly, otosclerosis causes damage to the sensory cells and nerve fibers in the inner ear, causing sensorineural hearing loss.

Usher syndrome:

Individuals who have hearing loss and retinitis pigmentosa (RP), an eye disease, may have a disorder known as Usher syndrome. According to the National Institutes of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Usher syndrome accounts for 50 percent of hereditary deaf-blindness cases.

There are three types of Usher syndrome, each inherited as an autosomal recessive disorder from the parents:

Type 1: Those with Type 1 Usher syndrome are born with profound hearing loss or deafness and severe balance problems.
Type 2: Those with Type 2 Usher syndrome are born with moderate to severe hearing loss and normal balance. RP is usually diagnosed in late adolescence.
Type 3: Those with Type 3 Usher syndrome are born with normal hearing and balance, with loss of hearing and vision beginning to develop in adolescence.
Although there is no cure for Usher syndrome, its symptoms can be treated or managed. Treatment for hearing loss may include hearing aids or cochlear implants along with assistive listening devices and auditory training.

Pendred syndrome:

Children who develop hearing loss may have Pendred syndrome, a genetic disorder inherited from the parents which may also include balance and thyroid problems. Families with medical histories of early hearing loss or those with a history of goiters and hearing loss may be carriers of the mutated gene causing this recessive trait. According to the National Institutes of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), this disorder accounts for five to ten percent of all inherited hearing loss.

An otolaryngologist can diagnose Pendred syndrome. Although there is no cure, it can be treated. Depending on the severity of the hearing loss, the individual may benefit from wearing hearing aids or receiving a cochlear implant.

Knowledge is power:

Although these three disorders are rare, it’s important to know your family’s hearing health history and share it with your family physician as well as your hearing healthcare professional. And while the most common form of hearing loss, sensorineural, isn’t genetic, be sure to let your medical professionals know if someone in your family has it, too. Sensorineural hearing loss, whether caused by excessive exposure to noise or simply age-related, can create communication problems between family, friends and coworkers. Untreated hearing loss can increase your risk for developing a variety of other health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and dementia. Annual evaluations can detect changes in your hearing health and provide your medical professionals with the information they need to keep all members of your family hearing their best for years to come.

To schedule a FREE hearing test, for you, your Mother, or any member of your family, please contact us here at A Atlantic Hearing. We have been servicing the community with FREE hearing exams for more than 45 years…” We Care About What You Hear”.

Source: Debbie Clason, staff writer, Healthy Hearing 
Image credit: Pixabay