Prevalence of Hearing Loss in Diagnosed Patients with Meningitis

Abstract

Background: Meningitis remains a life-threatening condition in children and is frequently
complicated by neurological sequelae, with hearing loss being the most common and
clinically significant outcome. Despite global recognition of this association, there is
limited regional evidence in South Asia, where systematic post-meningitis auditory
screening is rarely implemented and children remain at risk of undiagnosed disability.
Objective: To determine the prevalence and severity of hearing loss among children
diagnosed with meningitis at a tertiary care hospital in Lahore. Methods: A cross
sectional analytical study was conducted at the Children’s Hospital Lahore between
September 2022 and February 2023. A purposive sample of 127 children aged 0–12 years
with confirmed meningitis and documented normal pre-morbid hearing were enrolled.
Audiological evaluation included otoscopy, otoacoustic emissions, pure tone audiometry,
and auditory brainstem response. Data were analyzed using SPSS v24, with descriptive
statistics, chi-square tests, odds ratios, 95% confidence intervals, and p-values reported.
Results: Of the 127 participants, 78 (61.4%) were male and 76 (59.8%) were aged 0–3
years. Normal hearing was preserved in 48 children (37.8%). Mild hearing loss occurred
in 23 (18.1%), moderate in 32 (25.2%), severe in 4 (3.1%), and profound in 20 (15.7%).
The association between meningitis and hearing loss was statistically significant (p =
0.021). Conclusion: Nearly two-thirds of children developed post-meningitic hearing
impairment, most commonly moderate in severity, with profound loss present in a
substantial minority. Routine post-meningitis auditory screening is essential for early
detection and timely rehabilitation to mitigate long-term developmental and psychosocial
consequences.