Of course, pregnancy is awesome and fantastic. 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 kinds of weird side effects, including morning sickness, health hazards, and changes to your body. Getting there can be a bit of a process, but that doesn’t take anything away from the joy of being a parent.
And now there’s another possible little disadvantage to add to the list: hearing loss.
Pregnancy isn’t usually the first thing you think of when someone is talking about hearing loss. But pregnancy-induced hearing loss is actually more common than most individuals may think. This means that these symptoms are worth keeping on your radar. Pregnancy-induced hearing loss isn’t something you should be concerned about in most cases. Unfortunately, sometimes the cause is a more serious issue that could require swift medical treatment. Is hearing loss during pregnancy irreversible? Well, it could be, depending on how fast you treat it and what the underlying cause is.
Pregnancy-related hearing loss symptoms
Hearing loss during pregnancy doesn’t make an appearance on a lot of sitcoms or in very many romantic comedies. It isn’t nearly as cinematic as things like morning sickness. This means that, generally speaking, individuals may be less likely to expect pregnancy-related hearing loss. So knowing what to look out for can be helpful.
After all, the symptoms of pregnancy-related hearing loss are about more than turning the volume up on your television. Here are a few of the most common:
- Tinnitus: A ringing in your ears, known as tinnitus, is often linked to pregnancy-induced hearing loss. In some cases, this tinnitus may even sound like or take on the rhythm of your own heartbeat (this is known as pulsatile tinnitus). Whether this tinnitus exists by itself or with hearing loss, it’s worth talking to your doctor about what you’re feeling.
- Dizziness and imbalance: In many cases, pregnancy-induced hearing loss can impact the inner ear (or, in some situations, whatever is affecting the inner ear is also causing hearing loss). Your hearing loss may be accompanied by dizziness and balance issues if you have an issue with your inner ear. Pregnancy-related hearing loss is no exception.
- Headaches and migraines: Regular headaches and migraines can also be more consistent.
- Everything seems quieter: Certainly, this is likely the most apparent sign of hearing loss. But if it happens all of a sudden, it’s something called “sudden sensorineural hearing loss”. Any form of sudden hearing loss during pregnancy should be conveyed to your healthcare team as soon as possible. In order to prevent sudden hearing loss from becoming irreversible, you might need emergency treatment.
- A feeling of fullness in your ears: Pregnancy-induced hearing loss may sometimes be accompanied by a feeling of being plugged or fullness in your ears.
These aren’t universal symptoms. You will most likely 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 contact your doctor if experience any of these hearing loss symptoms. Because these symptoms might be an indication of a more serious issue.
What causes pregnancy-related hearing loss?
Is hearing affected by pregnancy? In some cases, possibly. But being pregnant may also affect other parts of your body that will then go on to affect your hearing.
So, what are the likely causes of pregnancy-induced hearing loss? Well, the causes vary… but some of the most prevalent include:
- High blood pressure: When you are pregnant, high blood pressure can trigger tinnitus and hearing loss. And this is, to some extent, why it’s very important to tell your doctor about your hearing loss. High blood pressure can be a symptom of preeclampsia and other severe ailments. These are issues that should be watched carefully throughout your pregnancy.
- Hormone and circulatory changes: Your body is doing an extraordinary amount of work when you get pregnant. Your hormones and circulatory system are experiencing lots of changes, as an outcome.
- An iron deficiency: Your health, and the health of your baby, can both be impacted in a wide variety of ways by an iron deficiency. Hearing loss can sometimes be one of those effects for the pregnant person.
- Bone growth: There’s a rare affliction known as otosclerosis in which the tiny bones in your ear start growing more rapidly, and this accelerated growth blocks the ability of sound to pass through your ears. Pregnancy causes 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 affects hearing, is continuing.
- Some of the typical things: Whether you’re pregnant or not, common things like blockages, sinus infections, and ear infections can trigger hearing loss.
In some cases, the cause of your hearing loss could be hard to determine. Routinely consulting your doctor and keeping an eye on your symptoms is the key here.
How do you manage this type of hearing loss?
The root cause of this kind of hearing loss will largely determine the course of treatment. The question that most people have is: will my hearing return to normal? Once your pregnancy has ended, your hearing should return to normal, or possibly even sooner.
However, this is not always the situation, so it’s essential to be aggressive when you notice symptoms. You might require additional treatment if bone growth is blocking your ear canal, for instance. The outcome will also depend on how rapidly you get treatment in the case of abrupt sensorineural hearing loss.
For this reason, reporting any symptoms to your doctor is so essential. You may then undergo a complete hearing screening or evaluation to help figure out your symptoms (or at least rule out any of the more dangerous possible impacts).
Protect your hearing
Even when you’re pregnant, while you’re juggling so many other things, it’s essential to be sure you pay attention to and protect your hearing. One of the best ways to do that is to stay in touch with us and with your care team. Schedule a hearing test with us right away.
