Bacterial meningitis

Question 1

What is meningitis

Answer 1

Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and the spinal cord (the meninges)

Question 2

Who can meningitis affect

Answer 2

It can affect anyone but is most common in babies, young children, teenagers and adults

Question 3

What can bacterial meningitis affect

Answer 3

In severe cases of meningitis bacteria or the chemicals that our bodies produce to fight infection may get into the inner ear, where they can cause damage to the hair cells of the cochlea or nerve fibres . This can cause a sensorineural hearing loss and may be permanent.

If there is hearing loss after meningitis there may be a risk of excess bone growth in the cochlea (this is called ossification). This can make existing hearing loss worse and treatment of the hearing loss more difficult or less successful. In children who need cochlear implants ossification can make it more difficult to surgically insert the electrodes into the cochlea.

Glue ear (caused by fluid in the middle ear as a result of an ear infection) is also another type of hearing loss that may be present after meningitis

All types of hearing loss can impact on speech and language development and also lead to behavioural problems