usually present later in childhood and can result from an array of clinical problems, including inner ear infections, autoimmune disorders, trauma, or tumors Acute Infection Bacterial meningitis is the most common cause of acquired sensorineural hearing loss Reported in 10% to 20% of patients with meningitis, the hearing loss is usually profound and often bilateral The hearing loss associated with meningitis is organism-specific and most commonly associated with Streptococcus pneumoniae but was also associated with infections caused by Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria meningitidis Vaccine programs that have led to a decrease in the incidence of these bacterial pathogens have been instrumental in decreasing the occurrence of this complication For patients with acute bacterial meningitis, adjunctive therapy with dexamethasone may decrease the incidence of neurologic sequelae, including hearing loss