Sure, pregnancy is amazing and fantastic. But when it comes to how it can make you feel, it can be pretty uncomfortable, at least in some cases. There are all sorts of weird side effects, including morning sickness, health hazards, and changes to your body. 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 disadvantages.
Pregnancy isn’t typically the first thing you think of when somebody is talking about hearing loss. But pregnancy-related hearing loss is actually more common than most people 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 may require immediate 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.
Pregnancy-related hearing loss symptoms
Hearing loss during pregnancy doesn’t show up on a lot of sitcoms or in very many romantic comedies. It’s not nearly as cinematic as something like morning sickness. This means that, generally speaking, individuals may be less likely to anticipate pregnancy-related hearing loss. So, it may be helpful to know what to watch out for.
Pregnancy-related hearing loss goes beyond just turning up the volume on your devices, after all. The most common symptoms include the following:
- Everything seems quieter: Of course, this symptom of hearing loss is the most apparent. But if it occurs all of a sudden, it’s something known as “sudden sensorineural hearing loss”. You need to convey any abrupt hearing loss during pregnancy to your physician as soon as you can. In order to stop sudden hearing loss from becoming permanent, you might need emergency treatment.
- A plugged feeling in your ears: A feeling of fullness in the ears frequently accompanies pregnancy-induced hearing loss.
- Dizziness and imbalance: In many cases, pregnancy-induced hearing loss can impact the inner ear (or, in some cases, whatever is impacting the inner ear is also causing hearing loss). Whenever your inner ear isn’t functioning properly, you may have issues with balance and dizziness with your hearing loss. Pregnancy-related hearing loss is no exception.
- Tinnitus: Pregnancy-related hearing loss is frequently associated with 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 called “pulsatile tinnitus”. Whether this tinnitus exists by itself or with hearing loss, it’s worth consulting your doctor 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.
These aren’t universal symptoms. You will probably experience some symptoms and not others depending on the underlying cause of your pregnancy-related 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 bigger problems.
The causes of pregnancy-induced hearing loss
Is hearing impacted by pregnancy? Well, perhaps, sometimes. 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:
- Bone growth: There’s a rare affliction called otosclerosis in which the tiny bones in your ear start growing more rapidly, and this accelerated growth prevents sound from passing through your ears. In pregnant individuals, this quicker bone growth may be caused by changes in your hormones or other changes in your body. It should be noted that research into otosclerosis during pregnancy, and exactly how much it impacts hearing, is ongoing.
- Some of the typical things: Whether you’re pregnant or not, common things like blockages, sinus infections, and ear infections can trigger hearing loss.
- High blood pressure: Hearing loss and tinnitus can be the outcome of high blood pressure which can be caused by pregnancy. And this is, in part, why it’s extremely important to tell your doctor about your hearing loss. High blood pressure can be a symptom of preeclampsia and other severe conditions. These are problems that should be tracked carefully throughout your pregnancy.
- An iron deficiency: An iron deficiency while you’re pregnant can have a wide variety of repercussions for your health and your baby’s health. Hearing loss can sometimes be one of those impacts for the pregnant person.
- Hormone and circulatory changes: When you get pregnant, your body is doing an exceptional amount of work. As a consequence, all kinds of changes are happening, both with respect to your hormones and your circulatory system.
In some cases, the cause of your hearing loss could be difficult to determine. 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?
The root cause of this type of hearing loss will largely determine the course of treatment. The question that most individuals have is: will my hearing loss clear up? Once your pregnancy has ended, your hearing should return to normal, or possibly 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 need additional treatment if bone growth is blocking your ear canal, for example. Likewise, if you experience sudden sensorineural hearing loss, the results will depend on how fast you receive treatment.
That’s why it’s so important to make sure you report these symptoms to your provider. You may then undergo a comprehensive hearing screening or assessment to help figure out your symptoms (or at least rule out any of the more severe possible impacts).
Protect your hearing
Protecting your hearing is something you should pay attention to especially when you’re pregnant. Getting regular evaluations with us is one of the best ways to do that. Schedule a hearing assessment with us as soon as possible.
