The Causes and Connections between Meningitis and Hearing Loss

Meningitis is a somewhat common disease that strikes mostly children and older adults. There are two forms of meningitis, viral and bacteria that can have an affect on parts of the body long after the infection is gone. Meningitis and hearing loss are greatly connected. To understand reasons for meningitis and hearing loss, it is best to know the facts behind meningitis. Meningitis is the inflammation of the meninges, which is the protective lining of the brain and spinal cord (which makes up the central nervous system). There are two types of meningitis, viral and bacterial, and comes about when either a virus or bacteria enters the body, and thus causing the immune system to fight it off by inflaming the area of the brain and/or spinal cord where the viral or bacterial meningitis is located. Although both types of meningitis are serious, with proper treatment (including vaccinations) and early diagnoses, most patients recover. Unfortunately, though, after the meningitis is gone, it could still leave damaging effects on the body, such as hearing loss.

The Link

Meningitis and hearing loss is connected because of the fact that the disease damages the central nervous system, the brain and spinal cord. The central nervous system controls normal, vital functions such as breathing, walking and hearing. When illness occurs to this part of the body, it can have some lasting effects on speech, eyesight as well as hearing. It is mainly the bacterial form of meningitis that causes problem such as hearing loss.

How to Treat Hearing Loss

If you or someone you know has experienced meningitis and hearing loss, the best thing to do is to visit your care provider. They will run hearing tests to see exactly how much hearing as been reduced, and advised you on what types of hearing aids may work for you. If the damage is only in one ear (unilateral), then only one hearing aid will be needed, if it is in both ears (bilateral) then two hearing aids will be needed. With advancing technology in medicine, hearing aids are now able to augment sounds that could not be heard without one.

If you are fortunate to survive meningitis without any permanent damage to your health, that is wonderful, but if you happen to experience meningitis and hearing loss, your best bet is to learn how to cope and exist with hearing reduction.