AUDIOMETRIC AND OPHTHALMOLOGICAL FINDINGS IN RUBELLA DEAFNESS

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 16  (1) , 49-54
Abstract
In an attempt to study the relevance of ophthalmological changes to the diagnosis of cochlear hearing impairment due to fetal rubella infection, a survey of the literature combined with a clinical investigation was carried out. Based on the investigation of 57 patients, 31% had congenital hearing impairment due to fetal rubella infection. Of these patients, 61% had typical rubella retinal changes. In the remaining 69%, ophthalmoscopy revealed no abnormality, except in 1 patient. The cause of the hearing impairment in this patient was unknown, but the mother had probably suffered from subclinical rubella infection in the 1st trimester of her pregnancy. Rubella retinitis is found with such a high incidence in rubella children that it can be used as a tool in the diagnosis of cochlear hearing impairment due to fetal rubella infection. Patients with congenital hearing impairment ought to undergo a routine ophthalmoscopy which will detect eventual pigmentary changes.

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