Long-term outcome of cochlear implantation in post-meningitic deafness

Abstract

Background: this study was planned (1) to evaluate long-term outcome after cochlear implantation in patients with post-meningitic deafness and (2) to compare the outcome measures with patients implanted for deafness due to other causes. Methods: records of 54 patients deafened as a sequel of bacterial meningitis and implanted at the largest university-based cochlear implant program in Turkey were retrospectively reviewed. Fifty-four age-and sex-matched patients with a similar interval of implant use were selected for controls. Surgical and long-term audiological outcome (in terms of categories of auditory performance-II scores) was assessed and compared. Results: twenty-seven (52%) patients had some degree of labyrinthitis ossificans and 19 of them had full electrode insertion via basal turn cochleostomy. Patients with and without labyrinthitis ossificans in the post-meningitic group had no difference in final categories of auditory performance-II score (P =.559). Median categories of auditory performance-II scores were 6 for post-meningitic group and 7 for controls, with a significant statistical difference (P <.001). Partial or full insertions did not differ in outcome (P =.938). Mean time to implantation was not cor-related with the final categories of auditory performance-II score for the post-meningitic group (P =.695). Conclusion: cochlear implant recipients deafened due to meningitis have a worse long-term hearing and speech performance as measured by categories of auditory performance-II than patients implanted for congenital deafness. The presence of labyrinthitis ossificans or the limited extent of electrode insertion produced overall results that were comparable with other cases.