Daijiworld Media Network – Montreal

Montreal, Jun 3: Vaccination could play a crucial role in preventing hearing loss among children and adolescents, according to a new study that has identified 26 infectious pathogens linked to hearing damage.

Globally, over 1.5 billion people suffer from some degree of hearing loss, often attributed to aging. However, experts warn that many cases stem from infections contracted during childhood many of which are preventable through timely immunisation.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that nearly 60% of childhood hearing loss can be avoided through public health interventions, particularly vaccination against diseases like rubella and certain types of meningitis.

A team of researchers, including experts from Université de Montréal, conducted a detailed review of existing scientific literature. Published in Communications Medicine, the study listed 26 infectious agents, including viruses and bacteria, that can cause hearing impairment.

These include common culprits like the measles virus and rubella, the latter known for its harmful impact on the auditory system if contracted during pregnancy, potentially leading to congenital deafness.

Other pathogens include the mumps virus, which may damage the inner ear or auditory nerve, and bacteria such as Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Neisseria meningitidis—all known to cause meningitis and result in irreversible hearing loss.

“If a vaccine is shown to save lives, it's reasonable for policy decisions to be made on that basis,” said Professor Mira Johri of Université de Montréal’s School of Public Health. “But vaccines can also offer significant benefits in preventing other harms, such as hearing loss, and these benefits deserve greater attention.”

The researchers suggest that the risk of hearing loss should be factored into vaccine evaluations and policies—not only during vaccine development but also in post-market assessments. The inclusion of this factor could also guide future research and innovation in vaccine formulation.