It’s an amazing and incredible experience, having a baby. But it can also be kind of… uncomfortable, at least sometimes, and at least in terms of how it can make you feel. There are all sorts of weird side effects, like morning sickness, health challenges, and changes to your body. None of this takes away 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 disadvantages.
Most individuals don’t instantly connect hearing loss with pregnancy. But pregnancy-induced hearing loss is actually more prevalent than most people might presume. It’s not a bad idea to watch out for these symptoms. In some cases, the cause of pregnancy-associated hearing loss is innocuous and insignificant. Sadly, sometimes the cause is a more serious issue that could require swift medical treatment. Is hearing loss during pregnancy permanent? Well, it could be, depending on how quickly you treat it and what the root cause is.
What are the symptoms of pregnancy-related hearing loss?
You typically won’t hear about pregnancy-related hearing loss in pop-culture. Things like morning sickness are much more cinematic. People typically don’t expect pregnancy-related hearing loss, because of this. So knowing what to watch out for can be helpful.
Pregnancy-related hearing loss is about more than simply turning up the volume on your devices, after all. The most common symptoms include the following:
- You feel plugged in your ears: A feeling of fullness in the ears frequently accompanies pregnancy-induced hearing loss.
- Dizziness and imbalance: In many instances, pregnancy-related hearing loss can impact the inner ear (or, in some instances, whatever is impacting the inner ear is also causing hearing loss). Whenever your inner ear isn’t functioning correctly, you may experience problems with balance and dizziness with your hearing loss. And that also goes for pregnancy-related hearing loss.
- Tinnitus: Pregnancy-related hearing loss is frequently linked to tinnitus, or a ringing or buzzing in the ears. The rhythm and sound of your tinnitus symptoms can, in some cases, sound like your own heartbeat which is known as “pulsatile tinnitus”. Whether this tinnitus exists by itself or with hearing loss, it’s worth talking to your care team about what you’re feeling.
- Everything seems quieter: Sure, this is probably the most obvious indication of hearing loss. But if it comes on abruptly, it’s something known as “sudden sensorineural hearing loss”. You should convey any abrupt hearing loss during pregnancy to your physician as soon as you can. In order to prevent sudden hearing loss from becoming irreversible, you might require emergency treatment.
- Headaches and migraines: You may also experience an increase in the number of headaches or migraines you get regularly.
These aren’t universal symptoms. Depending on the underlying cause of your pregnancy-related hearing loss, you may experience some symptoms but maybe not others. Either way, it’s a good plan to contact your doctor if experience any of these hearing loss symptoms. Because these symptoms could be an indication of a more serious issue.
The causes of pregnancy-induced hearing loss
Does being pregnant affect hearing? In some cases, maybe. But being pregnant might also affect other parts of your body that will then go on to impact your hearing.
So how can pregnancy-induced hearing loss possibly be caused? Here are several of the most common causes:
- Bone growth: The ability for sound to pass through your ears can be obstructed by a condition called otosclerosis which causes the tiny bones in your ear to grow too quickly. In pregnant individuals, this quicker bone growth may be caused by changes in your hormones or other changes in your body. It should be mentioned that research into otosclerosis during pregnancy, and just how much it affects hearing, is ongoing.
- Changes in your circulatory system (and hormones): Your body is performing an exceptional amount of work when you get pregnant. Your hormones and circulatory system are going through lots of changes, as a result.
- High blood pressure: When you are pregnant, high blood pressure can trigger tinnitus and hearing loss. So telling your physician about your hearing loss symptoms is very important. High blood pressure can be a symptom of preeclampsia and other severe ailments. Throughout pregnancy, these problems should be tracked.
- Some of the typical things: If you get an ear infection, a sinus infection, or any kind 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 child’s health. Hearing loss can sometimes be one of those effects for the pregnant woman.
In some cases, the cause of your hearing loss simply won’t be all that well understood. Routinely talking to your physician and keeping track of your symptoms is the key here.
How do you manage this kind of hearing loss?
Treatment of this form of hearing loss will usually depend on the root cause. The question that most people have is: will my hearing return to normal? Once your pregnancy has ended, 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 a given. For instance, if bone growth is blocking your ear canal, you might require additional treatment. Likewise, if you experience sudden sensorineural hearing loss, the results will depend on how fast you receive treatment.
That’s why it’s so essential to be certain that you report these symptoms to your doctor. The next step will probably be a comprehensive hearing evaluation to eliminate any more serious conditions and try to diagnose the inherent cause.
Protect your hearing
Even when you’re pregnant, while you’re juggling so many other things, it’s essential to be certain you watch out for and safeguard your hearing. Getting regular evaluations with us is one of the best ways to do that. Schedule a hearing examination with us right away.