Hearing loss in congenital syphilis typically presents at what age?

• A. 8 to 10 years
• B. Neonatal period
• C. At birth
• D. Within the first month of life

Answer: (A)

Hearing loss from congenital syphilis tends to be a late complication. The infection can damage the inner ear or the eighth cranial nerve, but this damage often develops gradually and isn’t apparent at birth. As a result, sensorineural hearing loss typically becomes evident during childhood, around school age, commonly about 8 to 10 years. Early signs in the neonatal period or at birth are not the usual pattern for this condition; those ages would imply involvement earlier in life or a different cause. Emphasizing this timing helps clinicians recognize the delayed nature of some congenital infections and underscores the importance of ongoing hearing surveillance in infants with a history of untreated or inadequately treated congenital syphilis.