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You expected lots of amazing changes with pregnancy, but some of them might still surprise you. Case in point: Being pregnant might give you a higher chance of getting an ear infection, of all things. Ear infections during pregnancy may happen for several reasons.

They’re usually relatively harmless and easily treated. But see a doctor if you have any kind of infection during pregnancy. If left untreated, ear infections can be harmful for your health and to your growing baby — and in rare cases may lead to complications. Infections in general are more common when you’re pregnant.

And ear, nose, and throat changes during pregnancy might increase your risk of ear infections in particular. An ear infection can be caused by a bacterial or viral infection. Pregnancy changes that may make this more likely include:

Higher basal metabolic rate (BMR). During pregnancy, your body requires increased oxygen levels and blood volume. This means that your heart also works harder to move all this fluid around. You might get an earache — though not necessarily an infection — if there’s fluid buildup inside the ear. Hormonal changes. During pregnancy, estrogen and progesterone levels go up. These hormones can affect your immune system, making you more susceptible to illness from bacteria and viruses. However, the exact link between hormones and infections isn’t entirely clear. More fluid. Increased blood flow means more fluid staying in your body. This can lead to other side effects. For example, you may have noticed that during pregnancy you often have a stuffy nose. More fluid in your nose and sinuses during pregnancy might increase the risk of an ear infection.

Changes during pregnancy can also cause other temporary ear issues like vertigo or dizziness. Your hearing and balance might be affected during pregnancy if you have an existing condition like Meniere’s disease, And if it’s allergy, cold, or flu season, everyone has a higher chance of getting ear and other infections. An infection or damage in the inner ear can sometimes lead to:

vertigohearing loss tinnitus (ringing in the ears)

Symptoms of ear infection include:

burning, sharp, or dull pain — especially if you press on the outer earswelling, redness, or inflammation of the ear canal itching in and around the earhearing losstinnitus, or ringing in the ear headache yellow or green drainage from the ear

Home remedies may help soothe symptoms when used with prescription medication — or if a doctor decides that you don’t need medical treatment. Home remedies for earaches include:

ear drops made from a mixture of one part rubbing alcohol and one part vinegar (don’t use this remedy if you have other ear issues, such as damage to the ear canal)a warm compress, like a gently heated water bottle or towelherbal ear drops (clear this with an OB during pregnancy)

See a doctor regularly for prenatal care. Let your doctor know immediately if you think you may have an ear infection. Not all earaches are infections — however, it’s always safer to get checked. An infection can spread and damage your hearing. Tell your doctor if you have any other ear symptoms, like tinnitus (ringing in your ears).

Other serious health conditions like high blood pressure or iron deficiency anemia can also cause some ear symptoms like tinnitus. In some cases, your doctor may refer you to an otolaryngologist or ENT specialist, which is a doctor who specializes in disorders associated with the ear, nose, or throat.

Check with your doctor before taking over-the-counter pain medication, Acetaminophen is considered safe during pregnancy, but you should avoid aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen (Aleve). In most cases, antibiotics are used to treat serious bacterial ear infections.

1. However, during pregnancy, many antibiotics may not be safe to take.
2. Your doctor can select the best option.
3. Your doctor will look inside your ear canal for inflammation.
4. They may remove fluid to be tested.
5. If you have a serious bacterial ear infection, your doctor may prescribe antibiotic ear drops that will need to be used for up to 2 weeks.

Other treatments that may be safe during pregnancy include ear washes and ointments. Any kind of infection can be harmful to you and therefore your baby. If left untreated, a serious ear infection can spread to the brain or other areas of the body. If you have a serious infection, your doctor may recommend taking an antibiotic that’s safer during pregnancy.

Don’t scratch your inner ear, especially with cotton swabs,Use a soft flannel cloth to clean the outside of your ears and the inner rim.Wear a swimmers cap or keep your head above water if you’re swimming.If you get water in your ears, try removing it with a soft, clean cloth.

The many changes in your body during pregnancy may increase your risk for some kinds of infections, including those of the ear. In most cases, ear infections during pregnancy are mild. However, it’s important to see a doctor if you have any kind of ear symptoms.

Is ear pain common in pregnancy?

Otological manifestations in pregnant women – A study at a tertiary care hospital of eastern India a Department of Otorhinolaryngology, IMS and SUM Hospital, Siksha “O” Anusandhan University, K8, Kalinganagar, Bhubaneswar, 751003, Odisha, India Find articles by b Department of Obstetric & Gynaecology, IMS and SUM Hospital, Siksha “O” Anusandhan University, K8, Kalinganagar, Bhubaneswar, 751003, Odisha, India Find articles by c Directorate of Medical Research, IMS and SUM Hospital, Siksha “O” Anusandhan University, K8, Kalinganagar, Bhubaneswar, 751003, Odisha, India Find articles by

a Department of Otorhinolaryngology, IMS and SUM Hospital, Siksha “O” Anusandhan University, K8, Kalinganagar, Bhubaneswar, 751003, Odisha, India b Department of Obstetric & Gynaecology, IMS and SUM Hospital, Siksha “O” Anusandhan University, K8, Kalinganagar, Bhubaneswar, 751003, Odisha, India c Directorate of Medical Research, IMS and SUM Hospital, Siksha “O” Anusandhan University, K8, Kalinganagar, Bhubaneswar, 751003, Odisha, India Santosh Kumar Swain:

∗ Corresponding author. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, IMS and SUM Hospital, Siksha “O” Anusandhan University, K8, Kalinganagar, Bhubaneswar, 751003, Odisha, India. Received 2019 Oct 19; Revised 2019 Nov 11; Accepted 2019 Nov 18. © 2019 PLA General Hospital Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery.

Production and hosting by Elsevier (Singapore) Pte Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). There are several physiological changes found in pregnant women and amongst them, otological changes are quite important. The otological manifestations in pregnant women are mainly due to changes of sex hormones levels, which return to normal in the postpartum period.

To report otological manifestations among pregnant women. Eighty-four pregnant women participated in this prospective study. A questionnaire was administered in all participants for assessing otological manifestations. The pregnant women were in the age range of 22–35 years.

1. They underwent thorough otological and obstetric examinations.
2. Pure tone audiometry (PTA) was done for assessment of hearing loss.
3. The mean age of the pregnant women in this study was 26.23 years.
4. The most common otological manifestation was sensation of ear blockage.
5. Eustachian tube dysfunction was common in the last trimester of pregnancy.

Other manifestations included vertigo and tinnitus. The alteration of hormonal milieu in pregnant women can lead to several otological manifestations, including eustachian tube dysfunction, hearing impairment, otitis externa, Bell’s palsy, vertigo and tinnitus.

• Despite these otological manifestations found in pregnant women, yet they are often neglected in clinical practice.
• Eywords: Pregnancy, Hearing loss, Tinnitus, Vertigo Otological manifestations are often seen in pregnant women due to alteration of hormonal levels involving estrogen and progesterone ().

Immediately following fertilization of the ovum by a sperm, female hormonal cycle starts to change. Embryo in the mother’s uterus produces human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) which stimulates the increase of progesterone levels that fall midway through the luteal phase after ovulation.

1. HCG begins to decrease after its peak at the end of the first trimester of pregnancy.
2. However, progesterone levels along with human placental lactogen and estrogen continue to increase thought out the pregnancy ().
3. These hormones in pregnant women are important for growth of the fetus, but the effects of these hormones often extend beyond the uterus and can change physiological activities of the body.

The majority of the changes related to hormonal level changes in pregnant women produce no harmful impacts on the mother or fetus, but some of the changes can become pathological and cause uneasiness, anxiety and discomfort (; ). The majority of otological manifestations during pregnancy are minor and temporary, but it is important for clinicians to determine the etiology of these symptoms to treat and provide assurance to pregnant women.

1. This study aims to evaluate otological manifestations during pregnancy to give better awareness to pregnant mothers and enhance the quality of life by avoiding unwanted medications and safely managing these symptoms without affecting the fetus.
2. This is a prospective observational study carried out at the department of Otorhinolaryngology and department of Obstetrics & Gynecology in a tertiary care teaching hospital in eastern India between August 2017 and July 2019.

This study was approved by the Institutional Ethical Committee (IEC, reference number: IEC/IMS/SOAU/32/2017). Out of the 379 pregnant women who visited authors’ hospital during the study period, 84 (22.16%) attended the otorhinolaryngology outpatient clinic with presentations of otological manifestations and were included in this study after signing an informed consent agreement.

1. The age of the participants varied from 22 to 35 years with a mean age of 26.23 years.
2. Inclusion criteria included no previous histories/risk factors of otological manifestations/diseases, systemic diseases, toxemia during pregnancy, diabetes or hypertension.
3. Because smoking is an irritant and adds several other changes in pregnant women and thus affects otological functions, pregnant women with smoking habits were excluded from this study.

All subjects underwent otoscopic examinations of the ear, tuning fork tests and pure tone audiometry (PTA) for assessment of hearing. Tuning fork tests included Rinne’s test, Weber test and absolute bone conduction (ABC) tests at 128, 256, 512 and 1024 Hz.

1. Air and bone conduction hearing thresholds were measured in all participants between 250 and 8000 Hz, using an Elkon Model EPA3N3 plus audiometer in a sound proof room.
2. The most common otological manifestation among this group of pregnant women was a sensation of ear blockage, apparently due to eustachian tube dysfunction confirmed on impedance audiometry showing type-C curves (n = 27, 32.14%).

All cases of ear blockage sensation and eustachian dysfunction were seen in the third trimester of pregnancy. These women were advised to perform Valsalva maneuver and prescribed topical nasal decongestants for relieve of nasopharyngeal mucosal edema to facilitate opening of the eustachian tube.

Otological manifestations	Number	Percentage(%)
Blockage feeling in ear	27	32.14
Hearing loss	18	21.42
Tinnitus	12	14.28
Autophony	9	10.71
Vertigo	9	10.71
Otitis externa	5	5.95
Bell’s palsy	4	4.76

Eighteen women (21.42%) showed hearing loss, including 8 showing conductive hearing loss affecting low frequencies (250, 500 and 1000 Hz) on PTA with negative Rinne’s test, 7 showing sensorineural hearing loss on PTA with positive Rinne’s test, and 3 cases showing mixed hearing loss ().

PTA, tympanometry and tuning fork tests confirmed three cases of otosclerosis, evidenced by a notch on bone conduction audiogram along with As type tympanometry curves. The 7 cases of mild to moderate sensorineural hearing loss were all detected during the first trimester of pregnancy. Two of them were diagnosed as existing Meniere’s disease before pregnancy.

Hearing loss in pregnant women (n = 18).

Types of hearing loss	Number	Percentage(%)
Conductive hearing loss	8	44.44
Sensorineural hearing loss	7	38.88
Mixed hearing loss	3	16.66

Nine women showed true vertigo with spinning sensations, of whom 2 were diagnosed with Meniere’s disease, 4 with benign paroxysmal vertigo as confirmed by Dix-Hall pike test, and 3 with vestibular neuritis (). Etiological factors for causing vertigo/Giddiness among pregnant women (n = 9).

Etiology	Number	Percentage(%)
Benign Paroxysmal vertigo	4	44.44
Vestibular neuritis	3	33.33
Meniere’s disease	2	22.22

Female sex hormones are unique because of their cyclic variations observed during pregnancy, menopause and menstrual period. Physiological alterations in the female body are common because of variation in levels of estrogen and progesterone. During pregnancy, a number of organs in the body are affected by hormonal changes of a pregnant mother including the otological system.

The sex hormones also influence the central nervous system of the pregnant women (). During pregnancy, there are osmotic variations in the body where fluid and sodium retention can occur. Circulating sex hormones can affect the hearing system by retention of fluid in the labyrinth during pregnancy () Eustachian tube dysfunction can occur due to mucosal edema, which leads to obstruction of the eustachian tube and formation of glue ear or otitis media with effusion ().

A common clinical symptom of eustachian tube dysfunction is sensation of ear blockage and reduced hearing. This is often treated with oral or topical nasal decongestants, and less so by the insertion of grommet or ventilation tube. Autophony is a classical complaint among pregnant women due to patulous eustachian tube.

1. A study demonstrated a relation among patulous eustachian tube, weight gain in pregnant women and raised serum estriol levels ().
2. In our study, about 1/3 of pregnant women with ontological manifestations complained of a sensation of ear blockage and about 1 out of 10 presented with autophony.
3. Hearing loss during pregnancy does not appear to be a common clinical manifestation, although this may reflect the paucity of available literatures.

Eustachian tube dysfunction is the key etiology behind the development of conductive hearing loss where fluid in middle ear leads to otitis media with effusion and manifests as hearing loss. In this study, 8 cases of conductive hearing loss were identified among the 18 pregnant women with hearing loss, of which 3 were diagnosed as otosclerosis.

1. Pregnancy is significantly associated with low frequency sensorineural hearing loss that mimics cochlear pathology.
2. Involving 125, 250 and 500 Hz.
3. This hearing loss begins at the 1st trimester and progresses in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters.
4. Seven pregnant women presented with sensorineural hearing loss in this study.

There is no major difference between the trimester and postpartum periods for hearing loss at or above 1000 Hz (). During pregnancy, speech audiometric findings are usually within normal limits, and the low frequency hearing loss never touches pathological levels and usually returns to normal in the postpartum period.

Reduction in hearing level during pregnancy may occur due to retention of excess fluid and sodium. Although such hearing loss mimics Meniere’s disease, the audiological outcome is often within physiological limits. Preexisting Meniere’s disease may worsen during the gestational period and patients may have more attacks during pregnancy.

Episodes of vertigo may increase with fall in serum osmolality in pregnancy. These findings reveal the involvement of the labyrinth or inner ear during pregnancy (). Sudden sensorineural hearing loss may be seen in pregnancy, which may be due to perilymph fistula secondary to fracture of the footplate of the stapes at the hour of effort in parturition leading to sudden onset of sensorineural hearing loss (; ).

1. The hypercoagulable state during pregnancy may lead to occlusion of microcirculation in the labyrinth or inner ear which may cause sudden deafness ().
2. Changes of estrogen and progesterone hormone levels in pregnancy can influence the hearing mechanism and sensory nervous system ().
3. Otosclerosis is a common cause of acquired hearing loss and commonly found in female.

Otosclerosis is widely accepted as being associated with pregnancy where it is aggravated during the gestational period (). Tinnitus or ringing sound in the ear is a frequent auditory symptom found during pregnancy. Different theories for etiopathology of tinnitus during pregnancy have been proposed, including hyperdynamic circulation, raised perilymphatic fluid pressure and hormonal changes in the body of the pregnant women (; ).

One study showed 33% of the pregnant women complaining of tinnitus in comparison to 11% of non-pregnant women in the control group, with relieve of symptoms after delivery (). In this study, 12 women (14.28%) presented with tinnitus. Severe tinnitus in pregnant women can even lead to early cesarean delivery of the baby at 34 weeks with resolution of tinnitus after delivery ().

Tinnitus may be an early warning sign for gestational hypertension or pre-eclampsia. It is prudent to have such type of cases monitored carefully, although there lacks complete logical investigation aside from a few case reports (). In this study, no history of gestational hypertension or preeclampsia was found in the 12 cases of tinnitus.

1. Otitis externa or infection of the external auditory canal is usually seen in the third trimester of pregnancy, probably due to increase in sebum secretion in the ear canal under the influence of estrogen.
2. The rate of sebum secretion in pregnancy with twins or triplets is not higher than in pregnancy with singlet, suggesting that the sebatrophic factor originates from the pituitary gland rather than placenta ().

In this study, five pregnant women (5.95%) presented with otitis externa. Bell’s palsy is a unilateral lower motor neuron facial palsy with sudden onset and non-progressive in nature. There is a 3.3 times increased risk of developing Bell’s palsy during the third trimester of pregnancy ().

1. The increased risk for development of Bell’s palsy during pregnancy is due to edema of the facial nerve and surrounding soft tissue from raised interstitial fluid volume which can lead to compression and ischemia of the facial nerve in the fallopian canal.
2. Another hypothesis for the development of facial palsy is gestational immunosuppression induced by raised cortisol levels, which leads to reactivation of latent herpes simplex virus.

In this study, four cases (4.76%) of Bell’s palsy were identified in the third trimester. In another study, six cases of Bell’s palsy were documented during the third trimester (). It appears that the third trimester is the common period for onset of Bell’s palsy during pregnancy.

Dizziness or vertigo is a common clinical problem during pregnancy. Incidence of vertigo during pregnancy increases with decline in serum osmolality in pregnancy, which may be influenced by alterations of hormonal levels and fluid-volume affecting the vestibular systems (). One study documented that the most common vestibular symptom is vertigo in the first trimester (22.72%), instability in the second trimester (12.12%) and gait imbalance in the third trimester (12.12%), followed by falling tendency (11.11%) ().

These results reveal a possible vestibular change stemming from altered hormonal levels in pregnant women that can lead to vertigo in the first trimester. and the vertigo symptom can change in the following trimesters through labyrinthine habituation.

1. As evidenced in the literature, these vestibular changes will normalize throughout the pregnancy period, leading us to assume that there is habituation of labyrinthine activities.
2. Instability or falling tendency during the third trimester can be explained by increase of body weight and changing of posture of the pregnant women that increase with progression of gestation.

This is supported by another study where a greater antero-posterior oscillation during the third trimester in comparison to the first trimester of pregnancy was found, indicating a decrease in balance in this phase (). Meniere’s disease or endolymphatic hydrops is a disorder of the inner ear where the endolymphatic system is extended by endolymph retention.

• It is characterized by vertigo, sensorineural hearing loss, aural fullness and tinnitus.
• Estrogen and progesterone can probably worsen the clinical scenario of Meniere’s disease.
• In an acute attack, dimenhydrinate and meclizine can be safely prescribed to pregnant women.
• Histamines and diuretics are usually avoided in pregnancy for treating Meniere’s disease as these can cause hypotension, hypovolemia and decrease the cardiac output.

In case of intractable vomiting, metaclopromide can be used (). Two cases were confirmed as Meniere’s disease in this study. We did not find similar studies for the eastern India region and the current study showed pregnant women can have several otological manifestations which can be easily managed by clinicians in day to day clinical practice.

In conclusion, this study shows that auditory and vestibular complaints such as hearing loss, vertigo and tinnitus are not uncommon among pregnant women. These otological symptoms are often due to alterations of sex hormones in pregnancy. The majority of these otological symptoms can be treated conservatively as they usually disappear after delivery of the baby.

Avoidance of unnecessary medications or interventions can decrease the risk to the fetus. Peer review under responsibility of PLA General Hospital Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery.

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: Otological manifestations in pregnant women – A study at a tertiary care hospital of eastern India

Can pregnancy cause ear problems?

Ear Changes – Hearing impairment and vertigo are the main symptoms seen during pregnancy. Hearing loss is usually due to Eustachian tube dysfunction, otosclerosis and sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Vertigo is attributed to the flaring up of the already existing Meniere’s disease.

• Eustachian tube dysfunction is seen due to the increasing mucosal oedma which causes obstruction and otitis media with effusion.
• Symptoms when persistent treatment in the form of systemic decongestants is given.
• Rarely ventilation tube is required.
• Eustachian tube dysfunction may be due to patulous tube during pregnancy when there is inadequate weight gain.

They present most often during the 3rd trimester with symptoms of intermittent autophony, and roaring which gets worse with decongestants and upright position. Symptoms improve in supine position and increased humidity. Tympanic membrane examination shows fluttering during respiration, bulge during expiration and retraction during inspiration.

1. Pure tone audiogram is usually normal.
2. Reassurance and steam inhalation is given.
3. It resolves after parturition,
4. Otosclerosis and its relation to pregnancy is due to the effect of oestrogen.
5. Oestrogen stimulates the otosclerotic foci which causes osteocytic activity and ossifies the otospongeotic lesions.

Most often the symptoms are seen near term or postpartum. If the patient has difficulty in communication hearing aid is given. Postpartum the patient is counseled for stapedectomy. Sodium fluoride which is known to retard bone absorption while accelerating calcification is contraindicated due to adverse foetal effects,

• Sudden sensorineural hearing loss: Rare but usually associated with toxemia.
• Oestrogen increases hypercoagulability and vascular occlusion of the inner ear microcirculation.
• Viral causes also need to be ruled out.
• Treatment of toxemia is enough and it is not necessary to anticoagulate.
• Corticosteriods may be given in the third trimester,

Meniere’s disease may be seen due to fluid retention. Probably oestrogen and progesterone also worsens the symptoms. During an acute attack dimenhydrinate and maclizine can be safely given in pregnancy. Diuretics and histamines are avoided as it causes hypotension, hypovolemia and lowers cardiac output.

For intractable vomiting metaclopromide can be used which belongs to category B, Bell’s palsy usually presents during the third trimester or early postpartum. The possible etiology is thought to be due to perineural oedema and mechanical compression, viral (Herpes Simplex Virus, HSV) inflammatory reactivation with subsequent demyelinization,

Corticosteriods is used if it presents in third trimester Presdnisolone is given 1 mg/kg per day and tapered over 5 days. If HSV is the suspected cause then Acyclovir is used which is a category B drug,

Why is my ear throbbing during pregnancy?

What does it sound like? – For some pregnant women, the tinnitus may match the rhythm of their pulse or heartbeat, known as pulsatile tinnitus, Some women report that their hearing feels muffled and they hear a loud whooshing sound. With so many blood vessels near the ears, it’s no wonder tinnitus is a sign of elevated blood pressure.

Is ear pressure normal during pregnancy?

7. Is it normal to have blocked ears during pregnancy? – There are many reasons why ears are blocked during pregnancy. As a result of pregnancy changes causing swelling of the nasal lining, the tube that connects the nose to the ears (eustachian tube) may become blocked easily.

How do you get rid of an earache while pregnant?

How to treat earaches during pregnancy – If you’re having problems with your ears during pregnancy there are often home remedies that will help. You should see a doctor if you are concerned or if you think you have an ear infection. It’s important to be aware that some other serious conditions can cause ear problems, for example, tinnitus-like symptoms can be caused by high blood pressure.

Over the counter pain medication – check with your doctor first to make sure what you’re taking is safe. A warm compress over the ear made from a gently heated towel. Ear drops made from one part rubbing alcohol and one part vinegar (not suitable if you have damage to the ear canal). Herbal ear drops (clear whatever you take with your OB first).

If you get earaches during pregnancy it’s likely that these will clear up on their own but it’s always worth getting checked out if you’re concerned. Get in contact with us as to how the Harley Street ENT can help with, To learn more about how we can help you,, : Earaches during pregnancy

What week of pregnancy do ears form?

Milestones in baby hearing development –

Weeks pregnant	What’s happening
5 weeks	Inner ear starts to develop.
12 weeks	The cochlea and middle ear are forming, and hair cells begin to sprout.
16-22 weeks	Your baby can hear sounds inside your body, like your heart beating.
23 weeks	Your baby can hear sounds from the outside world, like a dog barking.
26 weeks	Your baby can hear a broader range of sound and can respond with changes in heartbeat, breathing, and movement.
32-35 weeks	All parts of the ear are completely formed, and your baby’s hearing continues to be fine-tuned.

Learn more: Was this article helpful? Yes No BabyCenter’s editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals.

We believe you should always know the source of the information you’re seeing. Learn more about our, Anthwal, N. and Thompson, H.2015. The development of the mammalian outer and middle ear. Journal of Anatomy. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/joa.12344 Bibas AG et al.2007. Temporal bone study of development of the organ of Corti: Correlation between auditory function and anatomical structure.

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PLoS One 9:e88066. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0088066 Locher H et al.2015. Development of the stria vascularis and potassium regulation in the human fetal cochlea: Insights into hereditary sensorineural hearing loss.

Developmental Neurobiology.75(11):1219-1240. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/dneu.22279 NIOSH.2018. Reproductive Health and the Workplace. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/repro/noise.html Pujol R et al.1991. Development of the human cochlea.

Acta Oto-Laryngologica Supplement 482:7-12. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1897363/ Pujol and Lavigne-Rebillard M.1995. Sensory and neural structures in the developing human cochlea. International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology 32:S177-S182. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7665288/ van Straaten HL et al.2001. Claudia Boyd-Barrett is a longtime journalist based in Southern California and a proud, continually adapting mom of a teenager. : When can a fetus hear? What babies hear in the womb.

Why is my ear suddenly throbbing?

People with pulsatile tinnitus often hear rhythmic thumping, whooshing or throbbing in one or both ears. Some patients report the sounds as annoying. But for others, the sounds are intense and debilitating, making it difficult to concentrate or sleep.

How can I stop my ears from pulsing during pregnancy?

Progesterone may cause tinnitus in pregnant women – Expectant mothers may also suffer from ringing in the ears due to increased progesterone production. The body produces ten times as much of this particularly active hormone during pregnancy. These are signs telling the pregnant women that it’s time to take it easy and take care of herself by watching her diet, doing some exercise, and – above all – getting some rest.

Can I take ibuprofen while pregnant?

Ibuprofen and pregnancy – Ibuprofen is not usually recommended in pregnancy, unless it’s prescribed by a doctor, especially if you’re more than 30 weeks pregnant. This is because ibuprofen can affect your baby’s circulation and kidneys. There may also be a link between taking ibuprofen in early pregnancy and miscarriage.

• Always talk to a doctor or pharmacist before taking ibuprofen if you’re pregnant.
• Your doctor can advise you about the benefits and possible harms of taking it.
• A short course of ibuprofen may be OK, but it will depend on how many weeks pregnant you are and the reason you need to take the medicine.
• There may be other treatments that are more suitable for you.

Paracetamol is the best painkiller to take during pregnancy.

Is pressure in ears serious?

Is ear pressure serious? Ear pressure is typically not a serious condition, although it has some serious causes such as acoustic neuroma. It may be treated with simple actions such as yawning and swallowing. However, if it is persistent, you may need to see a doctor.

Can loud noises hurt fetus ears?

Why should I worry about noise? –

Increased noise levels can cause stress. This can cause changes in a the body that can affect your developing baby. Sound can travel through your body and reach your baby. Very loud noises may be able to damage your baby’s hearing. Ear plugs or earmuffs do not protect your baby’s hearing. If you’re pregnant the only way to protect your baby’s hearing is to stay away from loud noise.

Many people work in noisy jobs who may not realize it, especially those who work with:

Machines Guns Loud music Crowds of people Sirens Trucks Airplanes

Does an ear infection hurt a baby?

It can hurt a lot. Children with ear infections often fuss and cry, pull at their ears, and sleep poorly. Ear infections are common in babies and young children. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to treat the ear infection.

Why is my ear full of pressure?

Treatment – Some potential treatment options for TMJ pain include:

eating soft foodsnot chewing gumnot clenching the teethwearing a mouthguard at nightapplying a warm compress to the jaw to relax the musclestaking muscle relaxants practicing stress reduction techniquesapplying an ice pack to the jaw to reduce inflammationtaking anti-inflammatory drugs

A person who has ear pressure should see a doctor if they experience any of the following:

persistent painno improvement in symptoms despite home treatmenthearing lossfacial weakness bleeding from the ear dizzinessan inability to “pop” the earsan inability to remove a foreign object from the ear

Ear pressure can occur due to sinus congestion, infections, or TMJ damage, among other conditions. It can also occur as a result of situational factors, such as changes in altitude or having a foreign body stuck inside the ear. Some causes of ear pressure are treatable using OTC medications and home remedies.

Does drinking water help ear pressure?

Airplane ear – If the ears become clogged or painful due to airplane pressure changes, the following steps may help: 3. Valsalva maneuver This maneuver can help readjust the pressure in the ears. To perform the maneuver, a person should take in a deep breath, pinch the nostrils shut, close their mouth, and try to exhale against the pinched nostrils.

• The breath does not have to be overly forceful for this technique to work.4.
• Passive techniques Share on Pinterest Yawning may help to open up tubes in the ear and ease the symptoms of clogging.
• These techniques can passively help open the eustachian tubes that are in the ear and reduce feelings of fullness or clogging.

Examples of passive techniques include:

drinking waterchewing gumyawningswallowing frequently

5. Earplugs Some earplugs are marketed toward those who experience airplane ear. These devices have special filters that are designed to promote airflow and equalize pressure in the ears. While there is no significant scientific evidence showing that they are effective, anecdotal reports suggest that these earplugs can work.6.

Decongestants Taking a decongestant before flying may help reduce swelling of the mucous membranes that can place further pressure on the ears. The University of California, Berkeley recommend taking an oral decongestant an hour before departure and another dose an hour before the plane’s descent for an extended flight.

An airplane’s descent is the most common time for ear pressure difficulties. If you want to buy decongestants, then there is an excellent selection online with thousands of customer reviews.

What week of pregnancy do ears develop?

People often wonder if a fetus can hear while in the womb. Many expectant parents will speak to or play music for a developing fetus. Evidence suggests that the auditory system starts forming at the 18th week of pregnancy and continues to develop until the baby is between 5 and 6 months of age.

Everything that the fetus hears will contribute to this process. In this article, we look at what a fetus can hear at different stages of development. Despite being close to a lentil in size, an embryo will begin to develop ears during the 2nd month of pregnancy. The ears start as tiny folds of skin on the sides of the head.

After the 8th week, the embryo becomes a fetus. According to Mayo Clinic, the ears begin to stick out from the head at 18 weeks, and the fetus may become able to hear. At this stage, the brain starts to designate the areas that will govern smell, taste, vision, touch, and sound.

• By 22 to 24 weeks, the fetus will be about the size of a mango and will start to hear low-frequency noises from outside of the womb.
• As the fetus grows and their sense of hearing develops, they will be able to distinguish an increasing number of different sounds.
• Research suggests that the most vital time for the development of hearing is between 25 weeks of pregnancy and 5 to 6 months of age.

By the time babies reach the age of 6 months, they will be able to turn their eyes or head toward the source of a sound. Newborns in the United States usually receive a hearing test before leaving the hospital or within 3 weeks of birth. At first, a fetus cannot distinguish between different voices.

1. A fetus begins responding to sound at between 22 and 24 weeks but can only hear low frequencies, such as a dog barking or a lawn mower.
2. As the auditory system and the brain continue to develop, this range increases.
3. By late pregnancy, the fetus can hear voices and distinguish between them.
4. Many people wonder whether it is safe to attend a loud concert or work in a noisy job while pregnant.

While occasionally hearing loud sounds is unlikely to be harmful, research has found that prolonged exposure to loud noises may contribute to hearing loss in the baby. Examples of noisy jobs include those that involve people working in close proximity to:

loud musiccrowdssirenstrucksairplanesmachineryguns

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, researchers are unsure of what noise levels are safe for a developing fetus. However, taking into consideration how sound travels through the body, they recommend that pregnant women avoid very loud situations — anything louder than 115 decibels, which is about as loud as a chain saw — as much as possible.

• The noises that a fetus hears from around week 23 of pregnancy are vital to their future hearing.
• Specific parts of the auditory system need these noises to develop properly.
• As such, scientists recommend exposing a fetus to both speech and music.
• Many people believe that playing classical music to a growing fetus will help brain development and boost IQ, but there is little evidence to support this claim.

It is noisy in the womb. As the fetus’s auditory system develops, it will encounter all types of sound from within the woman’s body. These include the heartbeat, as well as the noises of the blood flow and digestive system. Around the 23rd week of pregnancy, the fetus will also be able to hear noises from outside of the womb.

These include speech and music. As the fetus develops, all of the sounds will become louder and more distinguishable. Amniotic fluid surrounds the growing baby in the womb, and the woman’s body tissues encase them, so noises from outside the body will sound muffled. The ears of a fetus start to develop relatively early in pregnancy.

However, hearing does not develop until the auditory system, the brain, and certain pathways start to form, which usually occurs between weeks 22 and 24, The auditory system requires stimulation through speech, music, and other sounds to grow properly.

Does an ear infection hurt a baby?

It can hurt a lot. Children with ear infections often fuss and cry, pull at their ears, and sleep poorly. Ear infections are common in babies and young children. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to treat the ear infection.