Body:
There is no scientific evidence that your lifestyle choices will affect your chances of being a carrier for GJB2 variants, other variants associated with inherited hearing loss, or for developing the condition.
However, a number of nongenetic factors can cause hearing loss at birth. The risk of having hearing loss at birth are higher if:
- A baby was born prematurely (too early)
- A baby needed the help of a ventilator to breathe
- A mother has a certain type of infection during her pregnancy
- A baby or child has a certain type of infection