Of course, pregnancy is awesome and wonderful. 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 are all sorts of weird side effects, like morning sickness, health hazards, 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 there’s another possible little drawback to add to the list: hearing loss.
Pregnancy isn’t typically the first thing you think of when somebody is talking about hearing loss. But pregnancy-induced hearing loss is actually more prevalent than most individuals might think. 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. Sadly, sometimes the cause is a more serious problem that could call for swift medical attention. Is hearing loss during pregnancy irreversible? Well, the answer kind of depends on the root cause, and how fast you treat it.
Pregnancy-related hearing loss symptoms
Hearing loss during pregnancy doesn’t show up on a lot of sitcoms or in many romantic comedies. Things like morning sickness are much more cinematic. This means that, generally, people may be less likely to anticipate pregnancy-related hearing loss. So knowing what to watch out for can be helpful.
After all, the symptoms of pregnancy-related hearing loss are about more than cranking the volume up on your television. The most prevalent symptoms include the following:
- Everything seems quieter: Sure, this is probably the most obvious indication of hearing loss. But a condition called “sudden sensorineural hearing loss” comes on all of a sudden and can be more obvious. Any type of sudden hearing loss during pregnancy should be reported to your healthcare team as soon as possible. You might require emergency treatment to stop the sudden hearing loss from becoming irreversible.
- Dizziness and imbalance: In many instances, pregnancy-induced hearing loss can affect the inner ear (or, in some instances, whatever is impacting the inner ear is also causing hearing loss). Whenever your inner ear is not working correctly, you might experience problems with balance and dizziness with your hearing loss. Pregnancy-related hearing loss isn’t an exception.
- You feel a fullness in your ears: Pregnancy-induced hearing loss could in some cases be accompanied by a feeling of stuffiness or fullness in your ears.
- Tinnitus: A ringing in your ears, called 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 known as “pulsatile tinnitus”. You should consult your physician about your tinnitus, whether hearing loss is also present or not.
- Headaches and migraines: Regular headaches and migraines can also be more consistent.
These aren’t universal symptoms. 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 plan to talk to your doctor if experience any of these hearing loss symptoms. That’s because these symptoms can in some cases be an indication of some rare but larger issues.
The causes of pregnancy-related hearing loss
Is hearing affected by pregnancy? Well, possibly, sometimes. 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 some of the most prevalent causes:
- 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 very important to tell your provider about your hearing loss. Serious conditions, including preeclampsia, can trigger high blood pressure. Throughout pregnancy, these issues should be monitored.
- 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 woman.
- Bone growth: The ability for sound to pass through your ears can be obstructed by a disorder called otosclerosis which causes the tiny bones in your ear to grow too fast. In pregnant individuals, this quicker bone growth may be caused by changes in your hormones or other changes in your body. Otoscerlosis research is still an ongoing process, and scientists are still working out just how much it affects hearing.
- Hormone and circulatory changes: When you become pregnant, your body is doing an exceptional amount of work. As a result, all kinds of changes are afoot, both with respect to your hormones and your circulatory system.
- Some of the typical things: If you get an ear infection, a sinus infection, or any type of obstruction in your ear (such as earwax), this can trigger hearing loss whether you’re pregnant or not.
In some instances, the cause of your hearing loss simply won’t be all that well comprehended. The important thing will be to keep track of your symptoms and be in regular communication with your doctor.
How do you manage this form of hearing loss?
The root cause of this type of hearing loss will largely determine the course of treatment. The question that many people have is: will my hearing return to normal? In most cases, yes, your hearing will return to normal once your pregnancy is over, or maybe even before.
But it’s also essential to get treatment for any symptoms you detect because getting your hearing back isn’t always certain. For instance, if bone growth is obstructing your ear canal, you may require additional treatment. Similarly, if you suffer from abrupt sensorineural hearing loss, the outcome will depend on how quickly you receive treatment.
That’s why it’s so important to be sure you report these symptoms to your doctor. The next step will most likely be a thorough hearing assessment to eliminate any more serious conditions and try to diagnose the underlying cause.
Protect your hearing
Even when you’re pregnant, while you’re managing so many other things, it’s important to be certain you pay attention to and protect your hearing. Getting regular evaluations with us is one of the best ways to do that. Give us a call today to schedule a hearing assessment.