Why does meningitis cause hearing loss?

Meningitis can cause sensorineural deafness in a number of ways. The most common cause is the infection spreading in to the cochlea, damaging the hair cells. Another possible cause is inflammation of the auditory nerve. Deafness can range from mild through to profound and can affect one or both ears.

What causes hearing loss after Hib meningitis?

Although sensorineural hearing loss is the most common finding, occasional patients with postmeningitic deafness are found to have conductive hearing loss. This type of deficit may result from the otitis media that fairly commonly precedes the development of Hib meningitis.

Can meningitis cause mixed hearing loss?

Fifteen of these children (7.4% of those assessed) suffered some degree of sensorineural or mixed hearing loss as a direct consequence of meningitis. The impairments ranged from mild unilateral to profound bilateral and the affected children were aged between 0 (i.e. infection at birth) to 15 years.

Does bacterial meningitis cause conductive hearing loss?

Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis can lead to several complications, one of which is hearing loss.

Does meningitis cause deaf blindness?

influenzae meningitis could have caused Keller’s deafblindness, based on the reported sequelae of deafness or blindness among untreated patients and a deafblind child among treated patients. Studies of “epidemic meningitis,” caused by N.

How long does it take for meningitis to cause hearing loss?

As many as 50% of people who have bacterial meningitis will have some degree of hearing loss. 1 This complication can occur within four weeks of a bout of meningitis in some people and within up to eight months in others.

How is hearing loss treated with meningitis?

Diagnosing and treating meningitis quickly, ideally within a day or two of the appearance of symptoms, can greatly lower the risk of hearing loss. In the event hearing loss is severe or permanent, it can be managed with hearing aids, cochlear implants, and ongoing support from hearing specialists and therapists.

Does meningitis cause ear ringing?

The effects of meningitis include the loss of hair cells in the inner ear, which leads to mild-to-medium hearing loss. Further physical damage of inner ear structures can result in a profound hearing loss. Meningitis can also leave a person with Tinnitus: a persistent whooshing or ringing-in-the-ears sound.

What bacteria causes deafness?

Bacterial meningitis is one of the causes of progressive sensorinueral hearing loss. Among bacteria, the Mycobacterium Tuberculosis has nowadays acquired a remarkable importance which is also due to its considerable diffusion, despite modern therapy, and to its association with HIV infection.