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Neuro-rehabilitation Approach for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Published on: January 25, 2016
Sensorineural hearing loss and Kawasaki disease: a prospective study
P D Knott1, L A Orloff, J P Harris
1Department of Surgery, UCSD School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92093-0830, USA.
Insights
Transient sensorineural hearing loss is a common complication of Kawasaki disease (KD) in children. However, persistent hearing loss after KD is rare, suggesting routine screening may not be necessary.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Vasculitis
- Audiology
- Acquired Heart Disease
Background:
- Kawasaki disease (KD) is a leading cause of acquired heart disease in children.
- Acute KD has been linked to sensorineural hearing loss.
- Prevalence of hearing loss post-KD requires further investigation in diverse populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency of hearing loss in children with Kawasaki disease.
- To assess hearing loss in a geographically and ethnically diverse patient group.
- To evaluate the persistence of hearing deficits following acute KD.
Main Methods:
- Prospective, multicenter study involving 62 pediatric patients with acute KD.
- Initial audiologic evaluation within 30 days of fever onset.
- Follow-up audiologic evaluation after disease resolution; risk factor questionnaire administered.
Main Results:
- 30.6% of patients had sensorineural hearing loss at initial evaluation.
- 5.5% had sensorineural hearing loss upon reevaluation.
- No specific risk factors for hearing loss were identified.
Conclusions:
- Transient sensorineural hearing loss is a frequent complication of acute KD.
- Persistent hearing loss following KD is uncommon.
- Awareness of potential hearing loss is important, but routine audiologic screening is not recommended.
Purpose:
Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute, self-limited vasculitis of infants and children that is now the most common cause of acquired heart disease in the pediatric age group in the United States and Japan. Reports have documented the association of acute KD with sensorineural hearing loss. To assess the prevalence of hearing loss following acute KD in a geographically and ethnically diverse population, a prospective, multicenter study of hearing loss in patients with KD was conducted.
Materials And Methods:
Patients with acute KD were enrolled in 7 clinical centers and underwent a primary audiologic evaluation within 30 days of the onset of fever. Patients were subsequently reevaluated after resolution of the acute phase of the disease. A questionnaire assessing risk factors for hearing loss was also administered.
Results:
A total of 62 patients were evaluated during the 29-month study period. At the first audiologic evaluation, 19 patients (30.6%) had sensorineural hearing loss, 6 patients (9.7%) had conductive hearing loss, 17 patients (27.4%) had normal hearing, and 20 patients (32.3%) had inconclusive studies. Overall, 2 of 36 patients (5.5%) had sensorineural hearing loss documented on their second audiologic evaluation. No risk factors for hearing loss were identified by the questionnaire.
Conclusions:
Transient sensorineural hearing loss (20 to 35 dB) is a frequent complication of acute KD and may be related to salicylate toxicity in some patients. Persistent sensorineural hearing loss is uncommon. Parents and primary care providers should be made aware of the potential for persistent sensorineural hearing loss following resolution of KD, but routine audiologic screening of this patient population does not appear to be warranted.
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