[Sensorineural impairment in the inner ear in epidemic parotitis]

During morbilli and mumps, classical forms of acquired deafness develop in childhood. The aim of the study was to investigate effects of mumps virus on cochlear function. Of 237 examined patients 71 had parotitis and 166 meningitis-meningoencephalitis. Audiometric analyses were carried out at the beginning of the treatment and after 6 months. Hearing loss above 30 dB was found in 109 patients (45.99%). Mild hearing impairment of sensorineural type was registered in the majority of patients, while total one-sided hearing loss was found in 2.53% of subjects. No correlation between clinical manifestations of parotitis or meningoencephalitis and hearing loss was found. Cytochemical liquor levels did not influence the development of hearing loss. 6 months later a recovery followed mainly in patients with mild impairments.