Missing Gene Linked to Early Hearing Loss in Females

Researchers identified that removing the Slc16a5 gene causes early-onset hearing loss in female mice, but not in male mice.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Women’s Health

A close-up photograph of a clear laboratory slide on a stainless steel surface, representing scientific medical research. — Researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas and SUNY Buffalo found that the Slc16a5 gene deficiency impacts ear health in female mice. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Scientists from the University of Texas at Dallas and the State University of New York at Buffalo discovered that a missing gene specifically leads to sensory hair cell loss in female mice. This gene removal alters estrogen-responsive genes, suggesting a potential hormonal link to ear health.

Why it matters

Understanding how this protein influences estrogen-responsive genes could help doctors better diagnose patients with currently unexplained, early-onset hearing loss. Long-term goals for these research findings include the potential development of future gene therapy treatments.

Nearly 22 million U.S. adults age 71 or older live with hearing loss. The study found that female mice lacking the Slc16a5 gene experienced significant sensory hair cell loss, whereas male mice maintained normal cell counts.

The players

University of Texas at Dallas

This is a public research university that co-led the study on gene-linked hearing loss.

State University of New York at Buffalo

This institution served as the collaborating university for the research project.

The details

Researchers disabled the Slc16a5 gene, which normally facilitates the transport of drug molecules to sensory ear cells, to observe changes in ear function. The resulting study showed that the absence of this protein disrupts pathways controlled by estrogen, a hormone known to offer protective effects for the ear.

October 30, 2026: Findings from the hearing loss study were published.

The Big Picture

This discovery extends the scope of the National Institutes of Health's hearing loss research initiatives by highlighting sex-specific genetic vulnerabilities. It challenges previous assumptions by proving that gene-related hearing loss can manifest differently based on biological sex.

These findings provide a new genetic pathway for physicians to investigate when patients present with early, unexplained hearing loss. While gene therapy is not yet available, this research marks a significant step toward future personalized treatments for ear health.

The takeaway

This study highlights the importance of considering biological sex in genetic research to better understand hearing health. Future diagnostics for early hearing loss may eventually incorporate genetic screening based on these identified pathways.