There are many causes of hearing loss. Some viral infections have been known to put hearing at risk. Hearing loss after viral infection can occur in the womb, childhood, or adulthood.
Hearing loss from viral infections is sensorineural hearing loss unless the hearing loss is from the buildup of fluid from an ear infection. If the nerves or structures of the inner ear or auditory nerve are damaged or if the blood supply to the inner ear has been insufficient, the inner ear cannot process sound and send the auditory signals by the auditory nerve to the brain.
When sound cannot reach the brain for processing, the person cannot hear properly. Sensorineural hearing loss is considered permanent since the hearing cannot be medically restored.
One viral infection that can jeopardize the hearing of an unborn child is cytomegalovirus (CMV). In fact, a congenital cytomegalovirus infection is one of the most common causes of hearing impairment in children.
Middle ear infections, called otitis media, can be caused by viral or bacterial infections. Though most cases of ear infections are successfully treated and pass with only mild, temporary hearing loss, some children have persistent, treatment-resistant ear infections that can lead to hearing impairment. Most often, the hearing loss is temporary, but prolonged ear infections with hearing loss can cause lasting language development problems.
Some childhood diseases caused by viruses have been linked to hearing loss. Mumps, chicken pox, and influenza are examples of viral infections that can cause a hearing impairment.
Some researchers believe that sudden hearing loss during adulthood is due to an unidentified viral infection. Sudden hearing loss without an identifiable cause is called idiopathic hearing loss. Sometimes, the person’s hearing returns as mysteriously as the hearing loss started.
Besides taking measures to reduce the risk of contracting viral infections such as frequent hand washing and flu shots, little can be done to prevent hearing loss after viral infection. Prompt treatment for any hearing impairment may be crucial in identifying the cause and preventing the hearing loss from becoming worse. However, there are often limited to no treatments for viral infections.