Can Pregnancy Lead to Changes in Hearing Threshold?

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Obstetrics
• Reproductive Health

Background:

• Hearing function can be influenced by hormonal and physiological changes during pregnancy.
• Understanding these auditory changes is crucial for maternal and fetal well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate alterations in hearing thresholds among pregnant individuals.
• To compare hearing assessments conducted during pregnancy and after childbirth.

Main Methods:

• A prospective observational study involved 69 women aged 18-40.
• Hearing assessments included conventional pure tone audiometry and impedance audiometry.
• Audiometry was performed during the antepartum (28-32 weeks) and postpartum (6 weeks) periods.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant difference was observed in average air conduction thresholds at speech frequencies between antepartum and postpartum assessments.
• These findings suggest measurable changes in hearing sensitivity during pregnancy.

Conclusions:

• Auditory sensitivity alterations observed during pregnancy are likely attributable to the physiological state of gestation.
• Hearing function tends to recover postpartum, suggesting a temporary impact of pregnancy on hearing.