[Sudden deafness in connection with mumps (author's transl)]

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Infectious Diseases
• Audiology

Context:

• Mumps, a viral illness, is a known but infrequent cause of sensorineural hearing loss.
• Sudden deafness, or sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), is an otologic emergency requiring prompt evaluation.
• The incidence and specific clinical presentations of mumps-induced hearing loss warrant further documentation.

Purpose:

• To report and analyze three distinct cases of sudden deafness occurring secondary to mumps infection.
• To discuss the pathogenesis, timing, and severity of hearing loss in relation to mumps.
• To correlate clinical findings, including vestibular and orchitis symptoms, with hearing impairment.

Summary:

• Three cases of mumps-associated sudden deafness are presented: two in children with severe, bilateral, perceptive hearing loss (occurring on days 8 and 14 post-mumps onset) and one in an adult male with unilateral deafness and vestibular degeneration during viremia.
• The adult case uniquely presented with total right-ear deafness, right parotitis, and right orchitis.
• Pathogenesis, temporal patterns of hearing loss, and degree of auditory impairment are discussed in the context of existing literature.

Impact:

• This case series expands the understanding of mumps as a potential cause of sudden deafness, emphasizing its varied clinical manifestations.
• Highlights the importance of considering viral etiologies, including mumps, in the differential diagnosis of sudden hearing loss.
• Provides valuable clinical data for audiologists and otolaryngologists managing patients with sudden deafness and mumps infection.