CMV and Hearing Loss

This keynote will highlight the recent advances concerning congenital Cytomegalovirus (CMV). CMV infection is the most frequent cause of congenital infection worldwide. The disease related to congenital CMV is neurological and sensorial: it is the leading cause of non-genetic sensorineural hearing loss, leads to severe vestibular dysfunction and neurodevelopmental disabilities in children. Congenital CMV infection often goes undetected because the majority of infected infants are asymptomatic at birth and screening programs have not been implemented. Recent advances in the therapeutic field, using antiviral therapy might improve long-term sensory and neurodevelopmental outcomes of infected children.