A child with bilateral severe hearing loss attributed to congenital cytomegalovirus infection presenting with deterioration of speech and language

Abstract

  We report a 3-year-old boy with severe bilateral hearing loss caused by congenital cytomegalovirus infection. He initially consulted the pediatrics department of another hospital for common cold-like symptoms. Speech delay was initially suspected because he spoke only a few words; however, when referred to our department we found he in fact had deterioration in speech and language caused by late-onset, progressive hearing loss due to congenital cytomegalovirus infection. One of the most important features of this infection is that it is difficult to diagnose. This relates to the wide variation in clinical features (in particular, onset age, progression, hearing level, and asymmetry), tendency to be asymptomatic, and limited methods for retrospective diagnosis after infancy. Due to decreasing levels of immunity to cytomegalovirus in pregnant women, concern is rising regarding the possibility of increasing numbers of children with hearing loss attributed to congenital cytomegalovirus. Indeed, congenital cytomegalovirus infection is extremely important as a cause of hearing loss in children.