Reversible sensorineural hearing loss in a late presentation of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis: A case report

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. It presents with a variety of symptoms including fever and encephalopathy. Hearing loss is a rare symptom. We present a 10-year-old girl who exhibited late-onset isolated hearing loss following an e...

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Main Authors: Laith Haddad, Simone Khalifeh, Nadia Koleilat, Mona Hnaini
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Acta Oto-Laryngologica Case Reports
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23772484.2025.2540451
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author Laith Haddad
Simone Khalifeh
Nadia Koleilat
Mona Hnaini
author_facet Laith Haddad
Simone Khalifeh
Nadia Koleilat
Mona Hnaini
author_sort Laith Haddad
collection DOAJ
description Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. It presents with a variety of symptoms including fever and encephalopathy. Hearing loss is a rare symptom. We present a 10-year-old girl who exhibited late-onset isolated hearing loss following an episode of ADEM that had not been treated. Initially, she displayed classical symptoms, but her hearing loss became the predominant concern weeks later, so intravenous corticosteroids were given. Remarkably, this treatment resulted in a significant partial reversal of her hearing ability. This highlights the potential for hearing loss as a late complication of ADEM. The improvement following corticosteroid therapy suggests that inflammation may play a critical role in the pathophysiology of auditory dysfunction. Our review of literature indicates a limited number of similar reports, underscoring the rarity and clinical significance of this symptom. This case adds valuable insight into the spectrum of ADEM and its atypical presentations.
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publishDate 2025-12-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
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series Acta Oto-Laryngologica Case Reports
spelling doaj-art-fd5eda691c294583a369831ec561b8392025-08-20T03:18:02ZengTaylor & Francis GroupActa Oto-Laryngologica Case Reports2377-24842025-12-0110113614210.1080/23772484.2025.2540451Reversible sensorineural hearing loss in a late presentation of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis: A case reportLaith Haddad0Simone Khalifeh1Nadia Koleilat2Mona Hnaini3Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, LebanonDivision of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, LebanonDivision of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, LebanonDivision of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, LebanonAcute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. It presents with a variety of symptoms including fever and encephalopathy. Hearing loss is a rare symptom. We present a 10-year-old girl who exhibited late-onset isolated hearing loss following an episode of ADEM that had not been treated. Initially, she displayed classical symptoms, but her hearing loss became the predominant concern weeks later, so intravenous corticosteroids were given. Remarkably, this treatment resulted in a significant partial reversal of her hearing ability. This highlights the potential for hearing loss as a late complication of ADEM. The improvement following corticosteroid therapy suggests that inflammation may play a critical role in the pathophysiology of auditory dysfunction. Our review of literature indicates a limited number of similar reports, underscoring the rarity and clinical significance of this symptom. This case adds valuable insight into the spectrum of ADEM and its atypical presentations.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23772484.2025.2540451Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM)hearing losscorticosteroidsauditory dysfunction
spellingShingle Laith Haddad
Simone Khalifeh
Nadia Koleilat
Mona Hnaini
Reversible sensorineural hearing loss in a late presentation of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis: A case report
Acta Oto-Laryngologica Case Reports
Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM)
hearing loss
corticosteroids
auditory dysfunction
title Reversible sensorineural hearing loss in a late presentation of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis: A case report
title_full Reversible sensorineural hearing loss in a late presentation of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis: A case report
title_fullStr Reversible sensorineural hearing loss in a late presentation of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis: A case report
title_full_unstemmed Reversible sensorineural hearing loss in a late presentation of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis: A case report
title_short Reversible sensorineural hearing loss in a late presentation of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis: A case report
title_sort reversible sensorineural hearing loss in a late presentation of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis a case report
topic Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM)
hearing loss
corticosteroids
auditory dysfunction
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23772484.2025.2540451
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AT nadiakoleilat reversiblesensorineuralhearinglossinalatepresentationofacutedisseminatedencephalomyelitisacasereport
AT monahnaini reversiblesensorineuralhearinglossinalatepresentationofacutedisseminatedencephalomyelitisacasereport