It’s an amazing and wonderful experience, having a baby. But in terms of how it can make you feel, it can be rather unpleasant, at least sometimes. There are all sorts of peculiar side effects, including morning sickness, health challenges, and changes to your body. Getting there can be a bit of a process, but that doesn’t take anything away from the joy of being a parent.
And now we can add hearing loss to that list of disadvantages.
Most individuals don’t immediately associate hearing loss with pregnancy. But pregnancy-associated hearing loss is actually more prevalent than most individuals may presume. It’s not a bad idea to watch out for these symptoms. In some cases, the cause of pregnancy-related hearing loss is harmless and banal. Sadly, sometimes the cause is a more serious issue that could call for swift medical treatment. Will pregnancy-related hearing loss subside? Well, the answer sort of depends on the root cause, and how fast you address it.
Pregnancy-induced hearing loss symptoms
You typically won’t hear about pregnancy-related hearing loss in pop-culture. Things like morning sickness are a lot more cinematic. People generally don’t expect pregnancy-related hearing loss, because of this. So, it might be helpful to know what to watch out for.
Pregnancy-related hearing loss is about more than simply cranking up the volume on your devices, after all. Here are a few of the most common:
- Headaches and migraines: You might also experience an increase in the number of headaches or migraines you get regularly.
- Tinnitus: A ringing in your ears, called tinnitus, is frequently associated with pregnancy-induced hearing loss. The rhythm and sound of your tinnitus symptoms can, in some instances, sound like your own heartbeat which is called “pulsatile tinnitus”. You should consult your physician about your tinnitus, whether hearing loss is also present or not.
- Everything seems quieter: Certainly, this is probably the most obvious indication of hearing loss. But if it comes on abruptly, it’s something called “sudden sensorineural hearing loss”. Any form of sudden hearing loss during pregnancy should be reported to your healthcare team as soon as you can. You may need emergency treatment to stop the sudden hearing loss from becoming permanent.
- You feel a fullness in your ears: Pregnancy-induced hearing loss might in some cases be accompanied by a feeling of being plugged or fullness in your ears.
- Dizziness and imbalance: In many cases, pregnancy-related hearing loss can impact the inner ear (or, in some situations, whatever is impacting the inner ear is also causing hearing loss). Your hearing loss might be accompanied by dizziness and balance problems if you have an issue with your inner ear. Pregnancy-related hearing loss isn’t an exception.
None of these symptoms are inevitably universal. 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 consult your doctor if experience any of these hearing loss symptoms. That’s because these symptoms can sometimes be a sign of some rare but larger issues.
The causes of pregnancy-induced hearing loss
Is hearing impacted by pregnancy? Well, perhaps, sometimes. But being pregnant may also impact other parts of your body that will then go on to affect your hearing.
So, what are the likely 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 type of blockage in your ear (like earwax), this can cause hearing loss whether you’re pregnant or not.
- An iron deficiency: An iron deficiency while you’re pregnant can have a wide variety of consequences for your health and your baby’s health. Hearing loss can sometimes be one of those impacts for the pregnant person.
- Bone growth: There’s a rare affliction called otosclerosis in which the tiny bones in your ear begin growing more rapidly, and this accelerated growth blocks the ability of sound to pass through your ears. In pregnant women, this faster bone growth may be caused by alterations in your hormones or other changes in your body. It should be mentioned that research into otosclerosis during pregnancy, and exactly how much it impacts hearing, is ongoing.
- High blood pressure: Hearing loss and tinnitus can be the outcome of high blood pressure which can be caused by pregnancy. And this is, to some extent, why it’s very important to tell your doctor about your hearing loss. High blood pressure can be a symptom of preeclampsia and other serious ailments. Throughout pregnancy, these issues should be monitored.
- 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.
Sometimes, the cause of your hearing loss may be difficult to identify. Regularly consulting your physician and keeping track of your symptoms is the key here.
How is this form of hearing loss managed?
The underlying cause of this form of hearing loss will generally determine the course of treatment. The question that most individuals have is: will my hearing return to normal? Once your pregnancy has ended, your hearing should return to normal, or maybe even sooner.
However, this isn’t always the situation, so it’s essential to be proactive when you observe symptoms. For example, if bone growth is obstructing your ear canal, you might require additional treatment. The results will also depend on how fast you get treatment in the case of abrupt sensorineural hearing loss.
That’s why it’s so essential to make sure you report these symptoms to your provider. You may then go through a complete hearing screening or evaluation to help get to the bottom of your symptoms (or at least eliminate any of the more severe possible impacts).
Protect your hearing
Protecting your hearing is something you should watch out for particularly 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.