Impact of Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period on Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss and Other Audiological Changes

/Objectives: Pregnancy is associated with profound hormonal, hemodynamic, and metabolic changes that may affect the auditory and vestibular systems. However, evidence regarding pregnancy-related audiological disturbances remains limited due to the low incidence of these conditions and the scarcity of dedicated studies....

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Audiologists should be aware that pregnancy and the postpartum period can be risk windows for SSHL and other audiological changes; prompt referral and evaluation are warranted for pregnant or postpartum patients presenting with sudden hearing changes.

SSHL during pregnancy is a clinically underrecognized scenario with time-sensitive management implications, and this review consolidates evidence to inform both audiologists and obstetricians.

1. 01Review of audiological changes during pregnancy and postpartum, with focus on sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL — rapid unexplained hearing loss).
2. 02Hormonal shifts (e.g., estrogen, progesterone) and hemodynamic changes (altered blood flow) are proposed as mechanisms for hearing changes.
3. 03Postpartum period may carry distinct audiological risk separate from pregnancy itself.
4. 04Highlights the need for interdisciplinary awareness between audiology and obstetric care.
5. 05Published in Journal of Clinical Medicine.

PMID

42652880

DOI

10.3390/jcm15166477.

Journal

Journal of Clinical Medicine

Publication type

review

Evidence level

5

Population

Pregnant and postpartum individuals presenting with sudden sensorineural hearing loss or other audiological changes

Intervention

Review of hormonal and hemodynamic influences on hearing during pregnancy and postpartum