Sure, pregnancy is awesome and wonderful. But in terms of how it can make you feel, it can be rather uncomfortable, at least in some cases. There’s the morning sickness, the changes to your body, the health challenges, and all kinds of weird side effects. None of this takes away from the delight of being a parent… but it’s a whole process to get there.
And now there’s another possible small drawback to add to the list: hearing loss.
Most individuals don’t immediately associate hearing loss with pregnancy. But pregnancy-induced hearing loss is actually more prevalent than most individuals may presume. It’s not a bad plan to keep an eye out for these symptoms. In some cases, the cause of pregnancy-induced hearing loss is innocuous and insignificant. Sadly, sometimes the cause is a more serious problem that could require swift medical attention. Is hearing loss during pregnancy irreversible? Well, it could be, depending on how quickly you treat it and what the underlying cause is.
What are the symptoms of pregnancy-related hearing loss?
Hearing loss during pregnancy doesn’t show up on many sitcoms or in many romantic comedies. Things like morning sickness are much more cinematic. People generally don’t expect pregnancy-related hearing loss, because of this. So, it may be beneficial to know what to look out for.
After all, the symptoms of pregnancy-related hearing loss go beyond cranking the volume up on your television. Here are a few of the most common:
- Headaches and migraines: Regular headaches and migraines can also be more frequent.
- Everything seems quieter: Certainly, this is probably the most evident indication of hearing loss. But a condition called “sudden sensorineural hearing loss” occurs abruptly and can be more apparent. Any type of abrupt hearing loss during pregnancy should be conveyed to your healthcare team as soon as you can. In order to stop sudden hearing loss from becoming permanent, you may require emergency treatment.
- Tinnitus: A ringing in your ears, called tinnitus, is often associated with pregnancy-induced hearing loss. In some situations, this tinnitus may even sound like or take on the rhythm of your own heartbeat (this is known as pulsatile tinnitus). You should speak with your doctor about your tinnitus, whether hearing loss is also present or not.
- Dizziness and imbalance: The inner ear can be affected by pregnancy-induced hearing loss, or sometimes a pre-existing issue with the inner ear can be the source of that hearing loss. Whenever your inner ear isn’t functioning correctly, you might experience problems with balance and dizziness with your hearing loss. And that also goes for pregnancy-induced hearing loss.
- A feeling of fullness in your ears: Pregnancy-related hearing loss might in some cases be accompanied by a feeling of being plugged or fullness in your ears.
These aren’t universal symptoms. You will most likely experience some symptoms and not others depending on the underlying cause of your pregnancy-induced hearing loss. Either way, it’s a good plan to talk to your doctor if experience any of these hearing loss symptoms. Because these symptoms may be an indication of a more serious concern.
What causes pregnancy-induced hearing loss?
Does being pregnant impact hearing? Well, perhaps, sometimes. But being pregnant may also affect other parts of your body that will then go on to affect your hearing.
So how can pregnancy-related hearing loss possibly be caused? Here are several of the most prevalent causes:
- Hormone and circulatory changes: Your body is doing an extraordinary amount of work when you get pregnant. Your hormones and circulatory system are experiencing lots of changes, as an outcome.
- Bone growth: There’s a rare affliction known as otosclerosis in which the tiny bones in your ear start growing more quickly, and this accelerated growth prevents sound from passing through your ears. Pregnancy produces hormonal changes and other body changes that can lead to this type of bone growth. Otoscerlosis research is still a continuing process, and scientists are still figuring out just how much it impacts hearing.
- An iron deficiency: An iron deficiency while you’re pregnant can have a wide variety of repercussions for your health and your child’s health. One of those impacts can in some cases be hearing loss in the woman who is pregnant.
- High blood pressure: While you’re pregnant, high blood pressure can trigger tinnitus and hearing loss. So telling your doctor about your hearing loss symptoms is very important. Serious conditions, including preeclampsia, can trigger high blood pressure. These are problems that should be monitored carefully throughout your pregnancy.
- Some of the typical things: If you develop an ear infection, a sinus infection, or any kind of obstruction in your ear (such as earwax), this can trigger hearing loss whether you’re pregnant or not.
In some instances, the cause of your hearing loss simply won’t be all that well comprehended. The important thing will be to keep an eye on your symptoms and be in regular communication with your provider.
How do you treat this type of hearing loss?
Treatment of this form of hearing loss will usually depend on the root cause. Will my hearing return to normal? This is the most prevalent question individuals will have. In most cases, yes, your hearing will go back to normal once your pregnancy is over, or maybe even before.
But it’s also important to get treatment for any symptoms you notice because getting your hearing back isn’t always a given. For example, if bone growth is blocking your ear canal, you may require additional treatment. The outcome will also depend on how rapidly you get treatment when it comes to sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
For this reason, reporting any symptoms to your doctor is so essential. The next step will most likely be a comprehensive hearing evaluation to rule out any more severe conditions and try to diagnose the inherent cause.
Protect your hearing
Even when you’re pregnant, while you’re managing so many other things, it’s important to be certain you watch out for and protect your hearing. Getting regular evaluations with us is one of the best ways to do that. Schedule a hearing assessment with us right away.