Audiological management in the recovery phase of bacterial meningitis.
During a specified 12-month period, a prospective study of all children admitted to a 139-bed city children's hospital with confirmed bacterial meningitis enabled assessment audiologically at 48 h, 6 weeks and 12 weeks post-admission using a test battery approach including auditory brainstem evoked responses and tympanometry. Results suggested conductive dysfunction to be a major cause of fluctuating hearing loss within the group. The incidence of sensori-neural loss was 16.6% of ears tested at final outcome. Results are discussed with reference to their implications for audiological management.
Smyth
V
V
Department of Speech and Hearing, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, Australia.
O'Connell
B
B
Pitt
R
R
O'Callaghan
M
M
Scott
J
J
D000158:Acoustic Impedance Tests; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000209:etiology*; D006314:Hearing Loss, Conductive / Q000209:etiology*; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000209:etiology*; D006320:Hearing Tests; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008581:Meningitis / Q000150:complications*; D008583:Meningitis, Haemophilus / Q000150:complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors