Children exposed to nicotine before and after birth are more likely than others to develop hearing problems, according to a study published in the Journal of Physiology.
It was already known that exposure to nicotine could harm the development of the fetal brain. Mothers who smoke, use e-cigarettes, or take nicotine replacement therapy are more likely to give birth prematurely, have a low birth weight, or have their babies die suddenly. The new study shows for the first time that nicotine can also interfere with the development of a part of the brain that analyzes sound. This conclusion stems from the comparison of mice born to mothers fed nicotine to mice born to normal mothers.
Children whose hearing response has not developed properly may have language or learning difficulties. Researcher Ursula Koch, of the Free University of Berlin, explained that this study found that neurons that receive signals from the ear are less efficient and less accurate in mice exposed to nicotine, but warns that 'we do not yet understand the exact extent of the impact of nicotine on the auditory system.
In the meantime, the information sheet produced by members of the organization of the » Smoking in Pregnancy Challenge Group » is rather reassuring when using e-cigarettes during pregnancy.
Source : Lapresse.ca/
