According to the March of Dimes, approximately 380,000 premature babies are born each year in the U.S. In 2015 that equaled approximately 9.6 percent of all births. However, the results of a new study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, show that babies born to women with hearing loss are even more likely to be born prematurely or have low birth weights.

According to the 2014 National Health Review Survey, 4.7 percent of women between the ages of 18 and 39 self-reported having trouble hearing without hearing aids. It is important to note, however, that while there is a correlation between hearing loss and higher rates of pre-term birth/lower birth weight, the relationship is not one of direct causality. In other words, it is the circumstances surrounding those with hearing loss that leads to the early births and low birth weights.

There appear to be several factors that contribute to higher rates of pre-term births and lower birth weights among those women with hearing loss. First of all, hearing loss, especially early-onset hearing loss, is often accompanied by speech-language and learning deficits which then translate into lower socioeconomic status. And because of that lower socioeconomic status, women with hearing loss were twice as likely to have coexisting health issues and more likely to give birth at an urban teaching hospital.

In addition, among women with hearing loss, Medicare and Medicaid were the most common payers for those who gave birth in hospitals; yet among women without hearing loss, private insurance was the most common payer. Prior health also comes into play as deaf and hard of hearing people are more likely than others to have two or more coexisting health issues.

To read more information on this eye opening study, please visit the full article www.Healthy Hearing.com.

Content provided by HealthyHearing