Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss in children: an unexpected case

TITOLO Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss in children: an unexpected case. RAZIONALE Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is exceedingly rare in children. Currently, the main guidelines for SSNHL refer only to adults, generating some uncertainty about the acute management of pediatric patients. The aim of this study is to report our experience of children who develop SSNHL without hearing recovery. DESCRIZIONE DEL CASO CLINICO A 7-year-old boy presents with a sudden hearing loss in his right ear associated with intermittent tinnitus. His past otological history has been unremarkable. Otomicroscopy reveals his tympanic membranes to be slightly retracted with minimal tympanosclerosis bilaterally. Pure tone audiogram shows a severe sensorineural hearing loss in the right ear. Anti-viral capsid antigen (VCA) IgM, anti-VCA IgG, anti-early antigen (EA) IgG, anti-cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgM and anti-CMV IgG were detected in our patient 3 weeks before the onset of SSNHL. Medical history, clinical examination and possible diagnostic and therapeutic pathways are discussed. CONCLUSIONI A deeper understanding of the underlying causes of SSNHL in children, which currently often remain unknown, might enhance the development of new treatment modalities, minimizing the negative consequences that might result from unrecognized hearing loss.