Viral Hearing Loss

Viral hearing loss is sensorineural hearing loss caused by a viral infection that damages the cochlea or auditory nerve. Several viruses are associated with hearing loss, including mumps, measles, cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes zoster (which can cause Ramsay Hunt syndrome when it affects the facial and auditory nerves), influenza, and viruses associated with meningitis.

Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) is the most common non-genetic cause of childhood hearing loss in Canada. It is transmitted from a pregnant person to the developing fetus and can cause hearing loss that is present at birth or develops during the first years of childhood. Viral hearing loss is typically sensorineural and can range from mild to profound. It may affect one or both ears and can come on suddenly or develop gradually.

When the causative infection is identified early, antiviral treatment may limit damage. Once hearing loss is established, management follows the same principles as other forms of sensorineural hearing loss, including hearing aids or cochlear implants depending on degree and functional impact.