Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 21, 2026
Neuro-rehabilitation Approach for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Published on: January 25, 2016
Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Swedish Children With Hearing Loss due to Congenital Cytomegalovirus
A Michel Sandström1, E Karltorp2,3, U Löfkvist2,4
1Habilitation Center, Norrlands University Hospital, Umeå, Sweden.
Insights
Children with congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV)-related hearing loss show more psychiatric and neurodevelopmental issues beyond hearing loss. Early identification and support are crucial for these children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Audiology
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases in Children
Background:
- Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) is a common cause of sensorineural hearing loss in newborns.
- The long-term neurodevelopmental and adaptive functioning outcomes for children with cCMV-related hearing loss are not fully understood.
- Understanding these outcomes is crucial for timely intervention and support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate parent-reported psychiatric, neurodevelopmental, and adaptive functioning outcomes in children with cCMV-related sensorineural hearing loss.
- To compare these outcomes with children with genetic hearing loss and typically developing controls.
Main Methods:
- A nationwide study in Sweden recruited parents of children aged 5-12 years.
- Three groups were included: cCMV-related hearing loss (n=10), genetic hearing loss (n=9), and typically developing controls (n=23).
- Parents completed questionnaires including the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) and Five-to-Fifteen Revised (FTF-R); non-parametric statistics were used for analysis.
Main Results:
- Children with cCMV-related hearing loss experienced later hearing loss identification and delayed motor development (walking).
- They exhibited a higher prevalence of neurodevelopmental conditions and significantly higher parent-reported psychiatric and developmental symptoms compared to controls.
- Compared to the genetic hearing loss group, they showed greater developmental difficulties, reduced social participation, and poorer school functioning.
Conclusions:
- Children with cCMV-related hearing loss face a significant burden of psychiatric and neurodevelopmental symptoms, extending beyond hearing impairment.
- These findings underscore the necessity of early identification of cCMV-related hearing loss.
- Structured long-term follow-up and tailored interventions are vital for supporting this vulnerable population.
Aim:
To investigate parent-reported psychiatric, neurodevelopmental and adaptive functioning outcomes in children with congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV)-related sensorineural hearing loss.
Methods:
Parents of children aged 5-12 years were recruited nationwide in Sweden into three groups: children with congenital cytomegalovirus-related sensorineural hearing loss (n = 10), children with non-syndromic genetic hearing loss (n = 9) and typically developing controls with normal hearing (n = 23). Parents completed a background questionnaire, the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) and the Five-to-Fifteen Revised (FTF-R). Group differences were analysed using non-parametric statistics.
Results:
Children with congenital cytomegalovirus-related hearing loss had later identification of hearing loss, delayed onset of independent walking and a higher prevalence of neurodevelopmental conditions compared with children with genetic hearing loss. They also had significantly higher parent-reported psychiatric and developmental symptom levels than controls across all main clinical measures. Compared with the genetic hearing loss group, they demonstrated greater developmental difficulties, reduced social participation and poorer school functioning.
Conclusion:
Children with congenital cytomegalovirus-related hearing loss exhibit a substantial burden of psychiatric and neurodevelopmental symptoms extending beyond hearing loss alone. These findings highlight the importance of early identification, structured long-term follow-up and tailored interventions to support this vulnerable population.
