When considering the causes of hearing loss, you likely think about exposure to loud noise and aging first. While these are common causes, one important source of hearing damage to watch out for is meningitis. Meningitis is an inflammation of the areas surrounding your brain and spinal cord, also called the meninges. Symptoms of meningitis may include:
- Neck stiffness
- Sensitivity to light
- Confused mental state
- Lack of energy
- Trouble waking up
- Lack of appetite
- Nausea or vomiting
- Small round spots resembling a rash
Infants may display different meningitis symptoms, including a bulging in the soft spot on the baby’s head, poor appetite, sleepiness or trouble waking up and low energy.
What Causes Meningitis?
Infectious causes, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites and non-infectious causes like diseases, medication and other conditions can result in meningitis. While the physical swelling in the meninges isn’t contagious, the bacterial and viral causes of meningitis can spread from person to person.
How Does Meningitis Cause Hearing Loss?
Hearing loss is most commonly associated with bacterial meningitis. When the infection spreads to the cochlea (the spiral-shaped cavity of the inner ear housing the hair cells responsible for transmitting noise), permanent damage can occur. In addition to damaging the hair cells in the cochlea, bacterial meningitis can cause inflammation of the auditory nerve, leading to permanent hearing loss.
The longer a patient goes without treatment, the greater the risk of seizures and permanent neurological damage. In addition to hearing loss, this damage may include memory problems, learning disabilities, brain damage and more.
What Can You Do?
Bacterial meningitis can worsen quickly and lead to permanent damage or even death. If you or your child have symptoms of meningitis, go to the emergency room immediately. There are a few ways you can help prevent meningitis, including:
- Talk to your provider to make sure you and your loved ones have the available meningitis vaccines.
- Contact your provider if you have been exposed to someone with meningitis. They will likely prescribe antibiotics to reduce the risk of transmission.
- Do not share food, drinks, utensils or other items with others, especially if they are sick.
Developing hearing loss as a result of meningitis can feel shocking and scary, but it is important to remember that you aren’t alone and you have options. Depending on the level of hearing loss, hearing aids and other treatment options can help you or your child cope with hearing loss by amplifying speech sounds and minimizing background noise. Where you or your child may once have struggled to hear honking cars or birds singing in Mayberry Park, hearing aids can help close the gap and bring a new world of sound.
Contact LeMay Hearing & Balance today to make an appointment with one of our specialists for a hearing assessment and treatment plan.