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The influence of pregnancy on sensation of ear problems – ear problems associated with healthy pregnancy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

Koichi Tsunoda ,
Shizue Takahashi ,
Minako Takanosawa  and
Yoshitaka Shimoji
Koichi Tsunoda*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Nissan Tamagawa Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Shizue Takahashi
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Nissan Tamagawa Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Minako Takanosawa
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Nissan Tamagawa Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Yoshitaka Shimoji
Affiliation:
Department of Gynaecology, Nissan Tamagawa Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
*
Address for correspondence: Koichi Tsunoda, M.D., Chief, Department of Otolaryngology, Nissan Tamagawa Hospital, 4-8-1 Seta, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158, Japan. Fax: +81 3 3700 2090
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Abstract

We wondered how many women had experienced a sensation of fullness in the ear during pregnancy. To address this question, data were obtained from a group of healthy women who attended the gynaecology clinic in our hospital as pregnancy cases between February 1995 and January 1998 and who volunteered to participate in our study. A control group was drawn from healthy female co-medical staff members of our hospital who had never been pregnant. The data used for comparing the two groups were taken from a questionnaire about ear problems that was presented to all subjects. The results suggest that ear problems may be increased in pregnancy, particularly for hypotensive pregnant women. However, even for pregnant women complaining of ear problems, pure-tone audiometry and impedance audiometry showed normal hearing in all cases. Furthermore, these women's complaints resolved completely on delivery of their babies.

Keywords

PregnancyHearing disordersTinnitus
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 113 , Issue 4 , April 1999 , pp. 318 - 320
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1999

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