Sudden deafness and asymptomatic mumps.

Adult patients who had experienced sudden deafness were examined for possible presence of subclinical mumps infection, using a new method of detecting mumps IgM antibody. Three of 53 patients demonstrated a positive reaction, indicating a strong correlation of sudden deafness with recent mumps infection. Mumps vaccination is recommended for those who have one deaf ear, in order to protect the better ear from mumps infection.