Prenatal Smoking Can Also Cause Hearing Loss

Prenatal smoking can greatly affect the life an unborn child. It can cause low birth weight, breathing problems, rapid heart rate, and even cognitive functioning. A new study shows that hearing loss is now also a concern when it comes to smoking and prenantal health. 

"Cigarette smoking is probably the worst man-made epidemic," said Michael Weitzman, study author and a professor at the New York University School of Medicine, via a press release. "This is the first time (we have) produced evidence that the ability to hear can be affected by smoke."

Researchers looked at statistics from a group of 964 children ranging in age from 12 to 15 from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2005-2006. The survey showed that about 16 percent of parents confirmed prenatal smoke exposure. Background information from the study showed that kids exposed to early smoking were roughly three times more likely to have mild hearing loss. Those without exposure to smoke were found to hear better by three decibels in comparison.

"Most of the mothers in this particular sample quit (smoking) in the first trimester," said Anil Lalwani, via USA Today, study contributor and professor and vice chairman for research at Columbia University. "Even brief encounters (with tobacco smoke) have negative effects."

The study was unable to determine how smoking can lead to hearing loss. However, Weitzman said he believes some specifics might explain why this is happening.

"It is possible that (hearing loss) might occur because of decreased blood flow and decreased oxygenation, or higher carbon monoxide levels," he said, via The Gazette. 

More information regarding the study can be found  in the journal JAMA Otolaryngology. 

Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, including nasty components such as cyanide, lead and at least 60 cancer-causing compounds. Nicotine and carbon monoxide in particular have been found to be extremely dangerous when it comes to prenatal health, which can cause even more serious complications, including stillbirth or premature delivery.

As nicotine and carbon monoxide stop oxygen flow and narrow blood vessels throughout the body, this includes the narrow of vessels in the umbilical cord that deliver oxygen and can ultimately could end the life of the child.