Overview Of The Causes And Complications Of Meningitis

Hearing Loss

Meningitis is capable of causing hearing loss. In fact, thirty percent of the bacterial meningitis cases recorded in the United States cause some level of hearing loss. More than three percent of young people in the United States with hearing loss had meningitis as children. The level of hearing loss can vary from mild to profound. Because bacterial meningitis increases the risk of hearing loss, patients need to talk to a hearing specialist after they have recovered to determine whether there was any effect. The hearing loss is caused by the loss of the inner ear's hair cells, which are responsible for picking up the vibrations from sound waves. If the damage to the structures of the inner ear becomes more complete, patients might experience profound hearing loss. Some individuals also experience tinnitus following meningitis, which is a ringing or whooshing in the ears. Hearing aids help remedy all but profound hearing loss cases.

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