The Role of Viruses in Acute Auditory Failure

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Abstract
A study of 67 patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss is reported. They had no previous ear disease, generalised disease history of trauma or recent antibiotic therapy. There were 31 men and 36 women; 56 had unilateral symptoms. 41 had vertigo and 15 gave a history of a recent respiratory infection. The age incidence was bimodal, having peaks in age groups 25-29 years and 45-49 years. Eight patients had antibody titres high enough to suggest a recent infection: four with a respiratory pathogen which was probably unconnected with the hearing loss; two with mumps virus; and one each with measles and varicellazoster virus. The available evidence suggests that these three are the viruses most likely to cause sudden hearing loss.

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