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Neuro-rehabilitation Approach for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
09:44

Neuro-rehabilitation Approach for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Published on: January 25, 2016

Hearing loss during bacterial meningitis

M P Richardson1, A Reid, M J Tarlow

  • 1Bath Unit for Research into Paediatrics, Royal United Hospital, Bath.

Archives of Disease in Childhood
|February 1, 1997
PubMed

Insights

Hearing loss in children with bacterial meningitis is often apparent early. While permanent deafness is rare, a significant percentage experience temporary cochlear dysfunction that may resolve with prompt treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric infectious diseases
  • Neuroscience
  • Audiology

Background:

  • Bacterial meningitis is a serious infection in children.
  • Hearing loss is a known complication of meningitis.
  • The precise timing and nature of hearing loss require further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the natural history of hearing loss in pediatric bacterial meningitis.
  • To understand the pathogenesis of hearing impairment in this population.
  • To differentiate between cochlear, neural, and conductive hearing defects.

Main Methods:

  • A multicenter prospective study involving 124 children (4 weeks to 16 years) with bacterial meningitis.
  • Repeated audiological assessments, including otoacoustic emissions, auditory brainstem responses, and tympanometry, within six hours of diagnosis.
  • Distinguishing between cochlear, neural, and conductive hearing impairments.

Main Results:

  • Hearing loss was present at initial assessment in all affected children.
  • Permanent sensorineural hearing loss occurred in 2.4% of cases.
  • A notable 10.5% experienced reversible hearing loss, primarily cochlear dysfunction, often resolving within 48 hours.

Conclusions:

  • Sensorineural hearing loss develops early in pediatric bacterial meningitis.
  • Permanent deafness is uncommon, but rapidly reversible cochlear dysfunction is frequent.
  • Prompt treatment may prevent the progression of reversible hearing loss to permanent deafness.
Abstract

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