A new study in the Archives of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, has found that the virus cytomegalovirus (CMV) is to blame for hearing loss in some babies. Nine% of Children with hearing loss ranging from partial impairment in just one ear to complete deafness were found to also have CMV.
CMV is a common virus that usually causes a small, harmless infection. However, women who contract CMV during their pregnancy have a higher chance of having a child with some degree of hearing loss according to this study. In addition, children with both CMV and hearing loss had a more severe degree of hearing loss than other children. In the past, CMV has also been linked to intellectual disabilities and cerebral palsy.
There is no vaccine or treatment for CMV. One in 25 women will get CMV while pregnant and about 33% of them will pass CMV onto the baby. If a woman has CMV before becoming pregnant, there is only a 1% chance of passing on the virus. About 1 in 1,000 children are diagnosed with hearing loss in the United States, and this research will help scientists discover the reasons behind childhood hearing loss, as well as aid in the development of possible future treatments in order to avoid hearing loss due to CMV.
If you are pregnant, you can avoid contracting CMV by making sure you wash your hands regularly and correctly. When washing your hands, be sure to use soap and warm water, and wash the front and back of your hands as well as between your fingers for at least 20 seconds. Simple hand washing, especially after spending time with small children and sick people, as they are more likely to be carrying the virus, will keep CMV away and will help you protect your unborn child.