Purpose of review: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is an important cause of congenital sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) that may represent up to 20% of nonsyndromic cases. Congenital CMV is an unrecognized cause of SNHL that all otolaryngologists should be aware of as it represents the only treatable cause of congenital SNHL.
Recent findings: The current review highlights the recent advances on congenital CMV, including methods of diagnosis and prevention of progression of hearing loss with valganciclovir treatment. A recent study has shown that 6 months of oral valganciclovir treatment of infants with congenital CMV disease improves audiologic and neurodevelopmental outcomes to at least 2 years of age. Early treatment could, thus, have an important impact on these children.
Summary: Increased awareness of congenital CMV SNHL by an otolaryngologist should lead to increased testing, and thus diagnosis, of this condition in newborns diagnosed with congenital SNHL. Prompt treatment with valganciclovir in these patients may consequently lead to prevention of progressive SNHL. Further research toward a CMV vaccine is hoped to eventually lead to prevention of congenital CMV.