Of course, pregnancy is awesome and wonderful. But in terms of how it can make you feel, it can be rather unpleasant, at least in some cases. There’s the morning sickness, the difference in your body, the health hazards, and all sorts of strange side effects. Getting there can be somewhat of a process, but that doesn’t take anything away from the happiness of being a parent.
And now there’s another potential small disadvantage to add to the list: hearing loss.
Most individuals don’t instantly connect hearing loss with pregnancy. But pregnancy-induced hearing loss is actually more prevalent than most people might presume. This means that these symptoms are worth keeping on your radar. In some cases, the source of pregnancy-related hearing loss is harmless and banal. In other cases, the cause is a serious issue and could call for immediate medical attention. Is hearing loss during pregnancy permanent? Well, the answer kind of depends on the underlying cause, and how rapidly you address it.
What are the symptoms of pregnancy-related hearing loss?
You generally won’t hear about pregnancy-induced hearing loss in pop-culture. Things like morning sickness are a lot more cinematic. This means that, generally, people might be less likely to anticipate pregnancy-related hearing loss. So, it might be beneficial to know what to look out for.
After all, the symptoms of pregnancy-related hearing loss go beyond turning up the volume on your television. Here are some of the most common:
- Headaches and migraines: You may also have an increase in the number of headaches or migraines you get regularly.
- Tinnitus: A ringing in your ears, known as tinnitus, is often linked to pregnancy-induced hearing loss. The rhythm and sound of your tinnitus symptoms can, in some cases, sound like your own heartbeat which is known as “pulsatile tinnitus”. You should speak with your physician about your tinnitus, whether hearing loss is also present or not.
- Everything seems quieter: Sure, this is likely the most evident indication of hearing loss. But a condition called “sudden sensorineural hearing loss” occurs all of a sudden and can be more obvious. Any form of abrupt hearing loss during pregnancy should be conveyed to your healthcare team as soon as you can. You might need emergency treatment to prevent the sudden hearing loss from becoming irreversible.
- Dizziness and imbalance: The inner ear can be impacted by pregnancy-related hearing loss, or in some cases a pre-existing problem with the inner ear can be the cause of that hearing loss. Whenever your inner ear isn’t functioning properly, you may have issues with balance and dizziness with your hearing loss. And that also goes for pregnancy-related hearing loss.
- You feel a fullness in your ears: Pregnancy-related hearing loss might sometimes be accompanied by a feeling of being plugged or fullness in your ears.
None of these symptoms are necessarily universal. Depending on the root cause of your pregnancy-induced hearing loss, you might experience some symptoms but not others. In any case, if you experience hearing loss or any of the related symptoms while you are pregnant, it’s usually a good plan to talk to your provider. Because these symptoms may be an indication of a more serious concern.
The causes of pregnancy-induced hearing loss
Does being pregnant impact hearing? Well, maybe, in some cases. But other parts of your body are affected by pregnancy and those parts of your body can then affect your hearing.
So, what are the likely causes of pregnancy-related hearing loss? Well, the causes differ… but some of the most common include:
- Changes in your circulatory system (and hormones): When you get pregnant, your body is doing an extreme amount of work. As a result, all kinds of changes are happening, both with respect to your hormones and your circulatory system.
- An iron deficiency: Your health, and the health of your baby, can both be impacted in a wide variety of ways by an iron deficiency. One of those impacts can sometimes be hearing loss in the woman who is pregnant.
- Bone growth: There’s a rare condition known as otosclerosis in which the tiny bones in your ear start growing more rapidly, and this accelerated growth prevents sound from passing through your ears. In pregnant women, this faster bone growth might be caused by alterations in your hormones or other changes in your body. It should be noted that research into otosclerosis during pregnancy, and just how much it affects hearing, is continuing.
- Some of the typical things: Whether you’re pregnant or not, typical things like obstructions, sinus infections, and ear infections can cause hearing loss.
- High blood pressure: Hearing loss and tinnitus can be the result of high blood pressure which can be caused by pregnancy. So telling your physician about your hearing loss symptoms is really important. High blood pressure can be a symptom of preeclampsia and other serious conditions. These are problems that should be tracked carefully throughout your pregnancy.
Sometimes, the cause of your hearing loss could be hard to identify. The important thing will be to keep an eye on your symptoms and be in frequent communication with your provider.
How is this form of hearing loss treated?
The underlying cause of this form of hearing loss will generally dictate the course of treatment. 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 you’re no longer pregnant, or possibly even before.
But it’s also important to get treatment for any symptoms you observe because getting your hearing back isn’t always certain. For example, if bone growth is blocking your ear canal, you might require additional treatment. Similarly, if you experience sudden sensorineural hearing loss, the results will depend on how fast you receive treatment.
For this reason, reporting any symptoms to your physician is so important. The next step will probably be a thorough hearing assessment to eliminate any more serious conditions and try to diagnose the root cause.
Protect your hearing
Even when you’re pregnant, while you’re managing so many other things, it’s important to be sure you pay attention to and safeguard your hearing. Getting regular evaluations with us is one of the best ways to do that. Give us a call today to schedule a hearing evaluation.
