Sudden hearing loss and pregnancy: a review

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Otolaryngology
• Audiology

Background:

• Acute hearing loss is an uncommon but distressing complication during pregnancy.
• Limited clinical experience contributes to a lack of understanding regarding the causes and management of sudden hearing loss in pregnant individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize current knowledge on sudden hearing loss occurring during pregnancy.
• To review and summarize the available literature on the diagnosis and management of this condition.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple electronic databases, including PubMed, Ovid, EBM Reviews, and Embase.
• A hand search of reference lists from retrieved papers was also performed.
• All identified studies were included due to the scarcity of relevant literature.

Main Results:

• The literature on sudden hearing loss in pregnancy is sparse, reflecting its rarity.
• Audiological findings in affected patients are often inconclusive.
• Spontaneous hearing recovery can occur in the postpartum period.

Conclusions:

• Sudden hearing loss during pregnancy is a rare event with limited research.
• While spontaneous recovery is possible, dextran 40 infusion may be considered for medical treatment.
• Further research, including larger studies, is needed to establish definitive management strategies.