The clinical features and prognosis of mumps-associated hearing loss: a retrospective, multi-institutional investigation in Japan

Conclusions: The majority of hearing loss due to mumps presents as unilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss, which is refractory to treatment. In rare cases of bilateral total deafness, cochlear implants were beneficial for speech perception. Vaccination against mumps is recommended to prevent mumps-associated hearing loss. Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the clinical characteristics of hearing loss due to mumps and to evaluate hearing outcomes. Subjects and methods: The clinical parameters were analyzed under a retrospective multi-institutional study design in patients diagnosed with hearing loss due to mumps at the Otolaryngology departments of 19 hospitals between 1987 and 2016. Results: Sixty-seven patients with hearing loss due to mumps were enrolled. The study population consisted of 35 males and 32 females, ranging in age from 1 to 54, with a median age of 9.5 years. Sixty-three patients presented with unilateral, and 4 with bilateral hearing loss. Profound hearing loss was observed in 65 ears. Only one ear with severe hearing loss showed complete recovery. Four patients with bilateral hearing loss received cochlear implant surgery. Most of the patients with hearing loss due to mumps had no history of vaccination.