Women with hearing loss ‘more likely to give birth prematurely’

A new study has indicated that pregnant women with hearing loss may be at a greater risk of complications associated with premature birth.

Published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, the research offered evidence that babies born to women with hearing loss are significantly more likely to experience preterm birth and low birthweight.

This conclusion was formed after assessing data from the 2008-2011 Nationwide Inpatient Sample of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, which included information on nearly 18 million deliveries, of which 10,500 were among women with hearing loss.

According to the researchers, the trend could reflect the fact that women in this group often have other health problems, as well as being more likely to experience problems accessing care.

Lead investigator Dr Monika Mitra of the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy at Brandeis University said "earlier studies on patient-provider communication, potential biological factors, interpersonal violence, health knowledge and health literacy among people with hearing loss, and the general dissatisfaction of people with hearing loss with their healthcare" could explain these findings.

As such, clinical interventions and maternal and child health programmes specifically aimed at women with hearing loss may be needed.

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