Nucleus 22 Cochlear Implantation Results in Postmeningitic Deafness

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Abstract
Cochlear implant surgery was performed on 13 patients with postmeningitic deafness (seven adults, six children). Two adults and two children (30.8%) had severe labyrinthitis ossificans requiring radical “drill‐out.” Five of 13 (38.5%) had some bone growth requiring partial drill‐out, and four of 13 (30.8%) had normal insertion with no drill‐out. Hearing results for patients with no bone growth were similar to nonmeningitic patients; three of four (75%) had open‐set speech recognition. Performance of patients with total drill‐out was poor; “auditory only” performance was limited to detection and pattern perception of speech, and no patients had open‐set speech recognition. Results for patients with partial drill‐out were similar to results in patients with no bone growth. Labyrinthitis ossificans not only presents surgical challenges to cochlear implantation but may also adversely affect hearing outcome.