Sudden bilateral hearing loss and meningitis in adults

Sudden profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is a serious complication of bacterial meningitis. With high dosage Dexamethasone it is possible to halt, and, in some instances, to reverse the progression of the hearing loss. The efficacy of treatment depends upon early diagnosis. Hearing may worsen upon steroid cessation and low dosage oral steroid may be required for several months. The eventual hearing loss may be considerably worse than anticipated. Two cases illustrating differing aspects of the disease are described.