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Updated: Oct 26, 2025
Neuro-rehabilitation Approach for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Published on: January 25, 2016
[Characteristics and recovery of hearing loss in 573 patients with bacterial meningitis]
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing 100045, China.
Insights
Hearing loss is a common complication in children with bacterial meningitis. While most cases are temporary, severe or profound hearing impairment increases the risk of permanent hearing loss.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Bacterial meningitis is a serious infection in children.
- Hearing loss is a known complication of bacterial meningitis.
- Understanding the characteristics and prognosis of hearing loss is crucial for management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the characteristics and prognosis of hearing loss in children diagnosed with bacterial meningitis.
- To identify risk factors associated with hearing loss in this population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study of 573 children hospitalized with bacterial meningitis.
- Review of clinical information and hearing assessment results.
- Follow-up assessments including repeat hearing tests and parent evaluations (PEACH).
- Logistic regression analysis to determine risk factors for hearing loss.
Main Results:
- Hearing loss was identified in 27.9% of patients during hospitalization.
- Permanent hearing loss occurred in 16.9% of affected patients.
- Severe or profound hearing loss during hospitalization was linked to permanent hearing loss.
- Independent risk factors for hearing loss included dystonia, high cerebrospinal fluid protein, low cerebrospinal fluid glucose, and subdural effusion.
Conclusions:
- Hearing loss is a frequent sequela of pediatric bacterial meningitis.
- Transient hearing loss is more common, but severe impairment poses a higher risk for permanence.
- Early identification and monitoring of hearing are essential for children with bacterial meningitis.
Abstract:
Objective: To analyze the characteristics and prognosis of hearing loss in children with bacterial meningitis. Methods: This was a single-center retrospective cohort study. Patients diagnosed with bacterial meningitis who were hospitalized in Beijing Children's Hospital between 2010 and 2016 and older than 28 days and younger than 18 years at symptom onset were included in this study (n=573). All clinical information including hearing assessment results during hospitalization were reviewed. All patients with hearing loss were followed up to repeat their hearing test and assess their hearing condition with parents' evaluation of aural and (or) oral performance of children (PEACH). Patients were grouped according to their hearing assessment results, and Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors for hearing loss in patients with bacterial meningitis. Results: Five hundred and seventy-three patients were enrolled in this study, including 347 males and 226 females. The onset age ranged from 29 days to 15.8 years. Two hundred and forty-six patients had identified causative pathogens, among whom 92 cases (37.4%) were pneumococcal meningitis cases. Hearing loss was found in 160 cases (27.9%) during hospitalization, involving 240 ears. Permanent hearing loss was found in 20 cases (16.9%), involving 32 ears. In the patients with permanent hearing loss, 87.5% (28/32) of ears were identified as severe or profound hearing loss during hospitalization. Logistic regression analysis showed that dystonia, the protein concentration level in cerebrospinal fluid>1 g/L, glucose concentration level lower than 1 mmol/L and subdural effusion were independent risk factors for hearing loss (OR=2.426 (1.450-4.059), 1.865 (1.186-2.932), 1.544 (1.002-2.381) and 1.904 (1.291-2.809)). Conclusions: Hearing loss is a common sequela of bacterial meningitis in children. Most patients have transient hearing loss, but patients with severe or profound hearing impairment have a higher risk of developing permanent hearing loss.
