Perceptive Deafness in Connection with Mumps: A Study of 298 Servicemen suffering from Mumps

Abstract

Two hundred and ninety-eight servicemen being treated for epidemic parotitis at Military Hospital 2 in Turku were examined audiometrically and otologically. The purpose of the examination was to throw light upon the following questions:

(1) How often does perceptive deafness occur in connection with mumps;

(2) Does hearing improve later, and if so, how often, in the observed cases of deafness; and

(3) Do patients suffering from mumps induced meningitis exhibit affected hearing more frequently than patients suffering only from mumps?

It was seen that perceptive deafness in connection with mumps:

(a) is not rare. Hearing loss occurred in 13 patients (4.4 ± 1.2 %).

(b) is usually reversible. Hearing became completely normal in six patients and almost normal in six patients, remaining unilaterally constantly and seriously affected in only one patient.

(c) has no correlation with mumps induced meningitis.

It was also seen that mumps induced deafness mostly appears in high tone range and that it may be bilateral.