Pregnant Women Can Contract Illnesses That May Cause Infant Hearing Loss

There are several diseases and illnesses that can be present in pregnant women that may cause hearing loss in infants.  Among these illnesses are HIV, Chlamydia, syphilis and alcoholism.  There are some among the medical community that believe these illnesses can cause damage directly to the auditory system and may affect the development of the ear itself.

HIV, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, is thought to affect the auditory nervous system and the cochlea, a part of the inner ear essential for normal hearing.  If HIV cannot be identified as the direct cause of hearing loss, it does leave the human body vulnerable to other infections which can affect hearing.  

Chlamydia, a sexually transmitted disease, can be present in the mother with few or no symptoms.  Not knowing she is infected, the mother can pass the disease along to an infant and cause hearing loss.  Syphilis, another sexually transmitted disease, can be passed along to an infant by the mother.  This transmitted illness may not cause immediate hearing loss, but hearing loss can eventually appear during childhood.

Alcoholism is thought to be another cause of hearing loss in infants.  There is a significant effect on the developing hearing of an infant born to a mother who consumes alcohol regularly during pregnancy.  It is believed, in more than 50% of cases, children born with fetal alcohol syndrome will be born with some degree of hearing loss.

There are many causes of infant hearing loss, including infections and illnesses in the mother.  Most of these causes are preventable with nutrition and good personal and medical care.  It is important for pregnant women to seek prenatal care for their entire pregnancy to lessen the chances of giving birth to a child with hearing loss.

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