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Scientific Oral Presentation

Pediatric Otolaryngology

Middle Ear Disease Burden in SNHL Patients with and Without Ccmv: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Sunday, October 18, 2026
1:00 PM - 1:06 PM PT
Location: 409AB
Disclosure(s):
Shi Liang, MD,:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Albert H. Park, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Introduction: Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) is the most common identifiable cause of congenital sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Anecdotally, many children with cCMV have middle ear effusion (MEE) and require ventilation tubes, with implications for hearing surveillance.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study (2011–2025) was conducted at a tertiary academic pediatric otolaryngology practice and included children SNHL grouped by etiology (cCMV vs non-CMV). MEE episodes were defined as otoscopic evidence of effusion during clinical visits. Middle ear disease burden was assessed by ventilation tube placement, number of type B tympanograms, proportion of visits with MEE, hearing severity, and progressive hearing loss. Analyses included Fisher exact tests with odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and negative binomial regression to calculate incidence rate ratios (IRRs).

Results: Ninety patients met inclusion criteria (cCMV, n=46; non-CMV SNHL, n=44). Demographics were similar; however, children with cCMV had higher odds of severe hearing loss (OR 2.91; p=0.019) and longer follow-up (3.60 vs 2.21 years). Children with cCMV had more clinical visits (6.74 vs 4.95). Compared with non-CMV SNHL, cCMV patients had higher rates of ventilation tube placement (36.4% vs 12.8%) and increased odds of tube placement (OR 3.38; p=0.027). The cCMV group demonstrated greater middle ear disease burden, including a higher proportion of patients with MEE (47.8% vs 29.5%), a higher proportion of visits with MEE (16.8% vs 7.0%), and more documented MEE episodes (IRR 2.71; p=0.007). Among type B–positive patients, MEE episode duration was longer (2.83 months [0.67–5.72] vs 1.29 months [0.37–2.53]). Rates of progressive hearing loss were similar (41.3% vs 48.8%).

Conclusions: cCMV-associated SNHL is associated with increased middle ear disease burden and greater need for otologic intervention, supporting heightened surveillance.