Of course, pregnancy is amazing and fantastic. But when it comes to how it can make you feel, it can be rather unpleasant, at least sometimes. There are all kinds of strange side effects, including morning sickness, health hazards, and changes to your body. None of this detracts from the happiness of being a parent… but it’s a whole undertaking to get there.
And now we can add hearing loss to that list of drawbacks.
Most people don’t immediately associate hearing loss with pregnancy. So it might be a surprise to learn that pregnancy-related hearing loss is somewhat common. It’s not a bad plan to keep an eye out for these symptoms. Pregnancy-induced hearing loss isn’t something you should be worried about in most cases. Unfortunately, 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 rapidly you treat it and what the underlying cause is.
What are the symptoms of pregnancy-induced hearing loss?
You typically won’t hear about pregnancy-induced hearing loss in pop-culture. Things like morning sickness are much more cinematic. People usually don’t expect pregnancy-related hearing loss, because of this. So knowing what to look out for can be helpful.
After all, the symptoms of pregnancy-related hearing loss are about more than turning the volume up on your television. Here are some of the most common:
- Dizziness and imbalance: The inner ear can be affected by pregnancy-induced hearing loss, or sometimes a pre-existing problem with the inner ear can be the source of that hearing loss. Whenever your inner ear isn’t functioning properly, you may have issues with balance and dizziness accompanying your hearing loss. And that also applies to pregnancy-related hearing loss.
- Tinnitus: A ringing in your ears, known as tinnitus, is often associated with pregnancy-related hearing loss. The rhythm and sound of your tinnitus symptoms can, in some circumstances, sound like your own heartbeat which is called “pulsatile tinnitus”. Whether this tinnitus exists by itself or with hearing loss, it’s worth consulting your care team about what you’re feeling.
- Headaches and migraines: You might also experience an increase in the number of headaches or migraines you have on a regular basis.
- Everything seems quieter: Of course, this indication of hearing loss is the most obvious. But if it happens all of a sudden, it’s something called “sudden sensorineural hearing loss”. You should convey any abrupt hearing loss during pregnancy to your physician as soon as possible. In order to prevent sudden hearing loss from becoming permanent, you may require emergency treatment.
- You feel a fullness in your ears: Pregnancy-induced hearing loss might in some cases be accompanied by a feeling of stuffiness or fullness in your ears.
None of these symptoms are fundamentally universal. You will probably experience some symptoms and not others depending on the root cause of your pregnancy-induced hearing loss. Either way, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor if experience any of these hearing loss symptoms. That’s because these symptoms can sometimes be a sign of some rare but bigger issues.
The causes of pregnancy-induced hearing loss
Is hearing affected by pregnancy? Sometimes, possibly. But being pregnant might also affect 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 prevalent 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 trigger hearing loss whether you’re pregnant or not.
- High blood pressure: When you’re pregnant, high blood pressure can trigger tinnitus and hearing loss. And this is, in part, why it’s very important to tell your doctor about your hearing loss. High blood pressure can be a symptom of preeclampsia and other severe ailments. These are issues that should be monitored carefully throughout your pregnancy.
- An iron deficiency: Your health, and the health of your child, can both be impacted in lots of ways by an iron deficiency. Hearing loss can sometimes be one of those impacts for the pregnant person.
- Hormone and circulatory changes: Your body is performing an exceptional amount of work when you become pregnant. As a result, all sorts of changes are happening, both with respect to your hormones and your circulatory system.
- Bone growth: There’s a rare condition known as otosclerosis where the tiny bones in your ear start growing more rapidly, and this accelerated growth prevents sound from passing through your ears. Pregnancy produces hormonal changes and other body changes that can cause this kind of bone growth. It should be noted that research into otosclerosis during pregnancy, and just how much it impacts hearing, is continuing.
Sometimes, the cause of your hearing loss may be hard to determine. Routinely talking to your physician and keeping an eye on your symptoms is the key here.
How is this form of hearing loss managed?
Treatment of this type of hearing loss will likely depend on the underlying cause. Will my hearing go back to normal? This is the most common question people will have. In most situations, yes, your hearing will go back to normal once you’re no longer pregnant, or possibly even before.
However, this isn’t always the default, so it’s essential to be aggressive when you notice symptoms. For instance, if bone growth is blocking your ear canal, you might require additional treatment. Likewise, if you experience sudden sensorineural hearing loss, the outcome will depend on how rapidly you receive treatment.
For this reason, reporting any symptoms to your doctor is so important. You may then undergo a comprehensive hearing screening or assessment to help figure out your symptoms (or at least eliminate any of the more severe possible impacts).
Protect your hearing
Protecting your hearing is something you need to pay attention to particularly when you’re pregnant. One of the best ways to do that is to remain in touch with us and with your care team. Schedule a hearing test with us right away.