Preterm, low-birth-weight babies more likely for women with hearing loss
Roberta Singer
Pregnant women with hearing loss may be more likely to give birth prematurely or have low-birth-weight babies. This is the conclusion of new research published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Lead investigator Dr. Monika Mitra, Ph.D., of the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy at Brandeis University in Waltham, MA, and colleagues note that many individuals with hearing loss have other health issues, largely because hearing problems reduce beneficial exposure to media, healthcare messages, health communication, and learning opportunities.
What is more, Dr. Mitra and team say healthcare providers rarely receive training on the best way to communicate with patients who have hearing loss, which can make it hard for clinicians to provide optimal care.
Written by Honor Whiteman
Published: Monday 26 September 2016