[Early and late damage to the auditory and vestibular area after meningitis in childhood and adolescence].

Meningitis is still one of the serious infectious diseases in clinical practise. In a high percentage of cases with this disease process, the auditory and vestibular parts of the inner ear are damaged. In this study the auditory and vestibular systems of 53 children and teenagers between 1.7 and 18.7 years of age were examined following meningitis. The mean time-interval between meningitis and examination was 5.8 years. Eighty-one of 106 ears examined showed sensorineural hearing losses which varied between mild hearing loss and total deafness. Peripheral vestibular lesions were found in 60 of 106 labyrinths examined. These varied between inhibition and total loss of function. In addition, we also found central vestibular lesions in 29 cases. Mild and moderate combined auditory and vestibular lesions could be verified in 23 ears, whereas profound functional disturbances or functional losses were found in 29 ears examined. Eight of 40 ears with hearing losses and 12 of 40 ears with peripheral vestibular lesions showed progression during follow-up. The findings of this study emphasize the need for auditory and vestibular diagnostic studies followed meningitis in children and teenagers. Patients and their families should be cared for on a long-term basis to avoid social and psychological problems.