It’s an amazing and incredible experience, having a baby. But it can also be kind of… unpleasant, at least at times, and at least when it involves how it can make you feel. There’s the morning sickness, the changes to your body, the health hazards, and all sorts of weird side effects. None of this detracts from the joy of being a parent… but it’s a whole process to get there.
And now there’s another possible small drawback to add to the list: hearing loss.
Most individuals don’t instantly connect hearing loss with pregnancy. So it might be surprising to learn that pregnancy-related hearing loss is somewhat common. It’s not a bad plan to watch out for these symptoms. Pregnancy-associated hearing loss isn’t something you need to be concerned about in most cases. Unfortunately, sometimes the cause is a more serious issue that could require swift medical attention. Will pregnancy-related hearing loss go away? Well, it could be, depending on how fast you address it and what the underlying cause is.
Pregnancy-induced hearing loss symptoms
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 generally don’t expect pregnancy-related hearing loss, because of this. So knowing what to look out for can be helpful.
Pregnancy-related hearing loss goes beyond just turning the volume up on your devices, after all. Here are a few of the most common:
- Headaches and migraines: You may also experience an increase in the number of headaches or migraines you get regularly.
- Dizziness and imbalance: The inner ear can be affected by pregnancy-induced hearing loss, or sometimes a pre-existing issue with the inner ear can be the source of that hearing loss. Your hearing loss might be accompanied by dizziness and balance issues if you have a problem with your inner ear. And that also applies to pregnancy-induced hearing loss.
- Everything seems quieter: Of course, this indication of hearing loss is the most evident. But if it happens suddenly, it’s something known as “sudden sensorineural hearing loss”. Any type of abrupt 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 irreversible.
- A feeling of fullness in your ears: Pregnancy-related hearing loss may in some cases be accompanied by a feeling of stuffiness or fullness in your ears.
- Tinnitus: Pregnancy-related hearing loss is frequently linked to tinnitus, or a ringing or buzzing in the ears. In some situations, this tinnitus might even sound like or take on the rhythm of your own heartbeat (this is called pulsatile tinnitus). You should speak with your doctor about your tinnitus, whether hearing loss is also present or not.
These aren’t universal symptoms. You will most likely experience some symptoms and not others depending on the root cause of your pregnancy-related hearing loss. In any case, if you experience hearing loss or any of the associated symptoms while you are pregnant, it’s generally a good idea to talk to your provider. That’s because these symptoms can sometimes be a sign of some rare but larger problems.
The causes of pregnancy-induced hearing loss
Does being pregnant affect hearing? Well, possibly, in some cases. But being pregnant might also affect other parts of your body that will then go on to impact your hearing.
So, what are the possible causes of pregnancy-induced hearing loss? Here are some of the most common causes:
- 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 sometimes be hearing loss in the woman who is pregnant.
- Bone growth: There’s a rare affliction known as otosclerosis where the tiny bones in your ear begin growing more quickly, and this accelerated growth prevents sound from passing through your ears. Pregnancy produces hormonal changes and other body changes that can lead to this type of bone growth. It should be noted that research into otosclerosis during pregnancy, and just how much it impacts hearing, is continuing.
- 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. These are issues that should be monitored carefully throughout your pregnancy.
- Hormone and circulatory changes: When you become pregnant, your body is doing an extreme amount of work. Your hormones and circulatory system are going through lots of changes, as an outcome.
- Some of the typical things: Whether you’re pregnant or not, typical things like obstructions, sinus infections, and ear infections can cause hearing loss.
In some cases, the cause of your hearing loss may be difficult to identify. The important thing will be to keep track of your symptoms and be in frequent communication with your provider.
How is this kind of hearing loss managed?
Treatment of this type of hearing loss will likely depend on the root cause. Will my hearing go back to normal? This is the most prevalent question people will have. Once your pregnancy has ended, your hearing should go back to normal, or maybe even sooner.
But it’s also important to get treatment for any symptoms you detect because getting your hearing back isn’t always a given. You might require extra treatment if bone growth is blocking your ear canal, for example. The results will also depend on how rapidly you get treatment in the case of sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
For this reason, reporting any symptoms to your doctor is so essential. You may then go through a comprehensive hearing screening or evaluation 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 watch out for especially when you’re pregnant. Getting regular evaluations with us is one of the best ways to do that. Give us a call today to schedule a hearing assessment.