It’s an awesome and incredible experience, having a baby. But when it comes to how it can make you feel, it can be rather uncomfortable, at least in some cases. There’s the morning sickness, the difference in your body, the health hazards, and all sorts of weird side effects. None of this detracts from the delight of being a parent… but it’s a whole process to get there.
And now we can add hearing loss to that list of drawbacks.
Most individuals don’t immediately associate hearing loss with pregnancy. But pregnancy-induced hearing loss is actually more prevalent than most people might presume. It’s not a bad plan to watch out for these symptoms. In some cases, the source of pregnancy-associated hearing loss is harmless and banal. In other cases, the cause is a serious issue and could require immediate medical attention. Will pregnancy-related hearing loss clear up? Well, it could be, depending on how quickly you treat it and what the root cause is.
What are the symptoms of pregnancy-induced hearing loss?
You usually won’t hear about pregnancy-induced hearing loss in pop-culture. It isn’t nearly as cinematic as things like morning sickness. People usually don’t expect pregnancy-related hearing loss, because of this. So knowing what to watch out for can be helpful.
After all, the symptoms of pregnancy-related hearing loss go beyond cranking up the volume on your television. The most prevalent symptoms include the following:
- Dizziness and imbalance: The inner ear can be impacted by pregnancy-induced hearing loss, or sometimes a pre-existing issue with the inner ear can be the cause of that hearing loss. Whenever your inner ear is not functioning correctly, you may have issues with balance and dizziness with your hearing loss. Pregnancy-related hearing loss isn’t an exception.
- A plugged feeling in your ears: Pregnancy-induced hearing loss might in some cases be accompanied by a feeling of stuffiness or fullness in your ears.
- Everything seems quieter: Of course, this indication of hearing loss is the most evident. But if it occurs all of a sudden, it’s something called “sudden sensorineural hearing loss”. Any form of sudden 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 permanent.
- Headaches and migraines: Regular headaches and migraines can also be more consistent.
- Tinnitus: A ringing in your ears, called tinnitus, is often linked to pregnancy-induced hearing loss. In some situations, this tinnitus might even sound like or take on the rhythm of your own heartbeat (this is known as pulsatile tinnitus). You should consult your doctor about your tinnitus, whether hearing loss is also present or not.
These aren’t universal symptoms. Depending on the underlying cause of your pregnancy-induced hearing loss, you might experience some symptoms but not others. Either way, it’s a good plan to contact your doctor if experience any of these hearing loss symptoms. Because these symptoms may be an indication of a more serious issue.
The causes of pregnancy-related hearing loss
Is hearing impacted by pregnancy? Well, perhaps, sometimes. But other parts of your body are affected by pregnancy and those parts of your body can then impact your hearing.
So, what are the possible causes of pregnancy-induced hearing loss? Here are several of the most common causes:
- Some of the typical things: If you get an ear infection, a sinus infection, or any kind of blockage in your ear (such as earwax), this can cause hearing loss whether you’re pregnant or not.
- High blood pressure: When you are pregnant, high blood pressure can trigger tinnitus and hearing loss. So telling your doctor about your hearing loss symptoms is very important. High blood pressure can be a symptom of preeclampsia and other serious ailments. Throughout pregnancy, these problems should be tracked.
- An iron deficiency: Your health, and the health of your baby, can both be affected in lots of ways by an iron deficiency. One of those impacts can in some cases be hearing loss in the woman who is pregnant.
- Bone growth: The ability for sound to pass through your ears can be obstructed by a disorder called otosclerosis which causes the tiny bones in your ear to grow too fast. In pregnant individuals, this quicker bone growth may be caused by changes in your hormones or other changes in your body. It should be noted that research into otosclerosis during pregnancy, and just how much it impacts hearing, is continuing.
- Changes in your circulatory system (and hormones): When you become pregnant, your body is doing an exceptional amount of work. As a result, all sorts of changes are afoot, both in terms of your hormones and your circulatory system.
In some instances, the cause of your hearing loss simply won’t be all that well understood. The essential 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 kind of hearing loss will largely dictate the course of treatment. The question that most individuals have is: will my hearing loss clear up? Once your pregnancy is over, your hearing should go back to normal, or maybe even sooner.
But it’s also essential to get treatment for any symptoms you notice because getting your hearing back isn’t always certain. You may require extra treatment if bone growth is obstructing your ear canal, for example. Likewise, if you suffer from abrupt sensorineural hearing loss, the outcome will depend on how rapidly you receive treatment.
That’s why it’s so essential to make sure you report these symptoms to your doctor. The next step will probably be a thorough hearing evaluation to rule out any more severe conditions and try to diagnose the underlying cause.
Protect your hearing
Safeguarding your hearing is something you should pay attention to especially when you’re pregnant. One of the best ways to do that is to stay in touch with us and with your care team. Give us a call today to schedule a hearing assessment.
