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Updated: May 1, 2026
Neuro-rehabilitation Approach for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Published on: January 25, 2016
Improvement in sensorineural hearing loss during pregnancy
Madelyn N Stevens1, Timothy E Hullar2
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
Pregnancy temporarily improved hearing in a woman with Ménière's disease. This hearing improvement, documented via audiograms, resolved post-delivery, suggesting hormonal influences on sensorineural hearing.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Otolaryngology
- Reproductive Endocrinology
Background:
- Hearing loss can affect pregnant women, but audiometric characterization of sensorineural threshold changes is limited.
- Ménière's disease and vestibular migraine are conditions that can impact hearing and balance.
Observation:
- A 31-year-old female with a history of Ménière's disease and vestibular migraine was studied over two pregnancies.
- Audiograms were performed throughout both pregnancies to monitor hearing thresholds.
Findings:
- Significant hearing threshold improvement was observed by the third trimester in each pregnancy.
- Hearing returned to baseline levels rapidly after each delivery.
Implications:
- This case provides unique audiometric documentation of hearing improvement during pregnancy.
- Findings suggest hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy can influence human hearing thresholds.
- Hormonal therapy may be a potential future treatment for specific cases of sensorineural hearing loss.
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