Abstract
Among 145 children with severe hearing loss 35 had a characteristic retinopathy. Only few of these had additional malformations. Most of these children (28) were born during the months September through February. Rubella antibodies were present more frequently than in matched controls. No such difference was found for cytomegalovirus and herpesvirus hominis.
Severe hearing loss in childhood is a relatively frequent handicap which may affect as many as I person in 1000 population in economically advanced countries (Fraser, 1976). It is often associated with other symptoms or malformations, depending on the etiology. There is a wide range of factors which may play some etiological role in these complexes, from genetically determined causes to viral infections (Fraser, 1976; Gregg, 1945; Nance & McConnell, 1973; Rowson et al., 1975). In many instances it is extremely difficult to establish a cause-and-effect relation.
This communication reports on an unusual combination of hearing loss and retinopathy and an attempt to associate this complex with viral infection.