Vaccines and Hearing Loss

Immunization against infections that can cause deafness

Overview

Several infections that can cause permanent hearing loss are preventable by vaccination, and public health bodies including the World Health Organization list immunization among key measures for preventing hearing loss. Rubella infection during pregnancy is a classic cause of congenital deafness, and widespread rubella vaccination has made congenital rubella syndrome rare in many countries. Mumps and measles can damage hearing, and bacterial meningitis, caused by organisms such as Haemophilus influenzae type b, pneumococcus, and meningococcus, is a leading cause of acquired deafness in children.