The topic of Matsumi Ladies Clinic Mita English blog in February is about ears and sound.

In the final part, I create an article about the virus and congenital hearing loss.

Some viral infection to the fetus can cause the impairment of physiological functions.

Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection is the leading cause of childhood hearing loss.

It is estimated to be responsible for about 10% of congenital hearing loss and 15-20% of childhood hearing loss.

Hearing loss is known to exerts a negative effect on speech, language, and cognitive development.

Thus, early identification and management of hearing loss are paramount to improving the language, communication, mental health, and employment prospects of hearing-impaired children.

Evidence shows that early intervention for newborns with hearing loss leads to improved language, communication, and socio-emotional outcomes.

Universal physiological neonatal hearing screening is widely used.

Usually otoacoustic emission (OAE) testing or automated auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing are performed to screen the hearing of well newborns.

All newborns should undergo hearing screening using physiologic measures prior to hospital discharge.