Prevalence of sensorineural hearing loss in premature and sick term infants with perinatally acquired cytomegalovirus infection.
Audiologic follow-up was obtained on 40 premature or sick term infants with perinatally acquired cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and on 40 prospectively matched control subjects. Final evaluation was postponed until 3 years of age to assess any long-term hearing sequelae of perinatal CMV infection in this population, and to obtain reasonably complete audiometric results. One experimental subject had a bilateral sensorineural hearing loss above 4000 Hz. Four control subjects had sensorineural hearing losses, three requiring binaural hearing aids. The prevalence of confirmed hearing loss requiring amplification (3.75%) in this study group was consistent with that observed in all graduates of the Intensive Care Nursery who were considered at risk for hearing loss in the same time period (4.2%). These data suggest that perinatally acquired CMV infection is not associated with significant sensorineural hearing loss in premature or full term infants through age 3.
D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000150:complications*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000150:complications*