Sure, pregnancy is amazing and fantastic. But it can also be sort of… uncomfortable, at least at times, and at least in terms of how it can make you feel. There’s the morning sickness, the changes to 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 we can add hearing loss to that list of drawbacks.
Pregnancy isn’t normally the first thing you think of when somebody is talking about hearing loss. But pregnancy-associated hearing loss is actually more common than most individuals may think. It’s not a bad plan to keep an eye out for these symptoms. Pregnancy-associated hearing loss isn’t something you need to be worried about in most cases. In other cases, the cause is a serious concern and might require immediate medical attention. Is hearing loss during pregnancy permanent? Well, it could be, depending on how fast you address it and what the underlying cause is.
Pregnancy-related hearing loss symptoms
You usually won’t hear about pregnancy-related 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, it might be useful to know what to look out for.
After all, the symptoms of pregnancy-related hearing loss are about more than cranking the volume up on your television. Here are some of the most common:
- You feel plugged in your ears: Pregnancy-induced hearing loss may in some cases be accompanied by a feeling of stuffiness or fullness in your ears.
- Dizziness and imbalance: The inner ear can be impacted by pregnancy-related hearing loss, or in some cases a pre-existing issue with the inner ear can be the cause of that hearing loss. Your hearing loss may be accompanied by dizziness and balance problems if you have an issue with your inner ear. And that also applies to pregnancy-induced hearing loss.
- Tinnitus: A ringing in your ears, called tinnitus, is often linked to pregnancy-related 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 consult your physician about your tinnitus, whether hearing loss is also present or not.
- Everything seems quieter: Of course, this indication of hearing loss is the most evident. But if it occurs abruptly, it’s something called “sudden sensorineural hearing loss”. 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 stop the sudden hearing loss from becoming permanent.
- Headaches and migraines: You may also experience an increase in the number of headaches or migraines you have on a regular basis.
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. In any case, if you experience hearing loss or any of the related symptoms while you are pregnant, it’s typically a good idea to talk to your provider. That’s because these symptoms can sometimes be an indication of some rare but larger problems.
The causes of pregnancy-induced hearing loss
Does being pregnant impact hearing? In some cases, possibly. But other parts of your body are affected by pregnancy and those parts of your body can then impact your hearing.
So how can pregnancy-induced hearing loss possibly be caused? Well, the causes vary… but some of the most prevalent include:
- Changes in your circulatory system (and hormones): When you become pregnant, your body is doing an exceptional amount of work. Your hormones and circulatory system are experiencing lots of changes, as a result.
- High blood pressure: While you are pregnant, high blood pressure can trigger tinnitus and hearing loss. And this is, to some extent, why it’s extremely important to tell your doctor about your hearing loss. High blood pressure can be a symptom of preeclampsia and other serious conditions. These are problems that should be tracked carefully throughout your pregnancy.
- Some of the typical things: Whether you’re pregnant or not, common things like blockages, sinus infections, and ear infections can cause hearing loss.
- An iron deficiency: An iron deficiency while you’re pregnant can have a wide variety of consequences for your health and your child’s health. One of those impacts can in some cases be hearing loss in the person who is pregnant.
- Bone growth: The ability for sound to pass through your ears can be blocked by a condition called otosclerosis which causes the tiny bones in your ear to grow too fast. Pregnancy induces hormonal changes and other body changes that can cause this kind of bone growth. Otoscerlosis research is still an ongoing process, and scientists are still figuring out exactly how much it affects hearing.
In some instances, the cause of your hearing loss just won’t be all that well understood. The essential thing will be to keep track of your symptoms and be in frequent communication with your doctor.
How is this kind of hearing loss managed?
The root cause of this kind of hearing loss will largely determine the course of treatment. The question that most people have is: will my hearing return to normal? In most cases, yes, your hearing will return to normal once your pregnancy is over, or maybe even before.
But it’s also important to get treatment for any symptoms you observe 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. Likewise, 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 complete hearing evaluation to rule out any more serious conditions and try to diagnose the inherent cause.
Protect your hearing
Protecting your hearing is something you should pay attention to especially when you’re pregnant. One of the best ways to do that is to remain in touch with us and with your care team. Give us a call today to schedule a hearing assessment.