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.