Of course, pregnancy is awesome and incredible. 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 peculiar side effects, like morning sickness, health challenges, and changes to your body. Getting there can be somewhat of a process, but that doesn’t detract from the joy 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. So it might be surprising to learn that pregnancy-related hearing loss is fairly common. It’s not a bad plan to watch out for these symptoms. In some cases, the cause of pregnancy-induced hearing loss is innocuous and banal. In other cases, the cause is a serious concern and might call for immediate medical attention. Is hearing loss during pregnancy permanent? Well, it could be, depending on how fast you address it and what the underlying cause is.
Pregnancy-induced hearing loss symptoms
Hearing loss during pregnancy doesn’t show up on a lot of sitcoms or in many romantic comedies. It isn’t nearly as cinematic as things like morning sickness. This means that, generally, individuals may be less likely to expect pregnancy-related hearing loss. So knowing what to look out for can be helpful.
Pregnancy-related hearing loss is about more than just cranking the volume up on your devices, after all. Here are a few of the most common:
- Headaches and migraines: You might also have an increase in the number of headaches or migraines you have regularly.
- Tinnitus: Pregnancy-related hearing loss is frequently associated with tinnitus, or a ringing or buzzing in the ears. In some circumstances, this tinnitus might even sound like or take on the rhythm of your own heartbeat (this is called pulsatile tinnitus). You should consult your physician about your tinnitus, whether hearing loss is also present or not.
- You feel plugged in your ears: Pregnancy-related hearing loss could in some cases be accompanied by a feeling of stuffiness or fullness in your ears.
- Everything seems quieter: Of course, this symptom of hearing loss is the most obvious. But a condition called “sudden sensorineural hearing loss” comes on suddenly and can be more apparent. You need to convey any abrupt hearing loss during pregnancy to your provider as soon as you can. In order to prevent sudden hearing loss from becoming irreversible, you might need emergency treatment.
- Dizziness and imbalance: The inner ear can be impacted by pregnancy-related hearing loss, or sometimes a pre-existing problem with the inner ear can be the source of that hearing loss. Whenever your inner ear is not working properly, you may have problems with balance and dizziness accompanying your hearing loss. Pregnancy-related hearing loss is no exception.
None of these symptoms are inevitably universal. Depending on the root cause of your pregnancy-related hearing loss, you might experience some symptoms but not others. In any case, if you experience hearing loss or any of the associated symptoms while you are pregnant, it’s typically a good plan to talk to your provider. Because these symptoms might be an indication of a more serious issue.
What causes pregnancy-related hearing loss?
Does being pregnant affect hearing? In some cases, possibly. But being pregnant might also affect other parts of your body that will then go on to impact your hearing.
So, what are the potential causes of pregnancy-related hearing loss? Here are several 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. Hearing loss can sometimes be one of those impacts for the pregnant person.
- 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: While you’re pregnant, high blood pressure can trigger tinnitus and hearing loss. So telling your physician about your hearing loss symptoms is very important. Serious conditions, including preeclampsia, can cause high blood pressure. Throughout pregnancy, these issues should be monitored.
- Changes in your circulatory system (and hormones): Your body is doing an extraordinary amount of work when you get pregnant. Your hormones and circulatory system are going through lots of changes, as an outcome.
- Bone growth: There’s a rare affliction called otosclerosis where the tiny bones in your ear begin growing more rapidly, and this accelerated growth prevents sound from passing through your ears. In pregnant individuals, this quicker bone growth might 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 affects hearing, is continuing.
In some cases, the cause of your hearing loss may be difficult to determine. The important thing will be to keep track of your symptoms and be in frequent communication with your doctor.
How is this form of hearing loss treated?
The root cause of this form of hearing loss will largely determine the course of treatment. Will my hearing go back to normal? This is the most prevalent question individuals will have. Once your pregnancy has ended, your hearing should return to normal, or maybe even sooner.
But it’s also important to get treatment for any symptoms you observe because getting your hearing back isn’t always a given. For example, if bone growth is blocking your ear canal, you might require additional treatment. Likewise, if you suffer from abrupt sensorineural hearing loss, the outcome 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 provider. You may then go through a comprehensive hearing screening or evaluation to help get to the bottom of your symptoms (or at least eliminate any of the more severe possible impacts).
Protect your hearing
Even when you’re pregnant, while you’re managing 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. Give us a call today to schedule a hearing evaluation.