Name: Dr Mariam Alkandari
consultant Audiovestibular physician
Name: Dr Mutlaq Alsihan
consultant Otorhinolaryngology, head and neck surgeon
Name: Dr Ahmed Ashour
senior practitioner ENT
Name: Aud Fahad Almethen
chief Audiologis
Case Report
Youngest age implanted in Kuwait
Post meningitis hearing loss
Abstract
Meningitis, particularly bacterial meningitis, is a severe disease with serious complications, one of the most significant being complete hearing loss, often affecting both ears. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment are of utmost importance to prevent such complications. Additionally, the early detection of hearing impairment resulting from meningitis is crucial, as it can have severe effects on the cochlea. Meningitis may lead to cochlear inflammation, followed by rapid ossification, ultimately rendering the patient unable to benefit from any hearing devices, including the most powerful and efficient hearing aids or even cochlear implants of any type. Cochlear implantation for cases of severe to profound hearing loss due to meningitis is considered an emergency procedure that must be performed immediately after diagnosis to ensure the best possible outcomes. Delayed intervention may result in the inability to benefit from the implant due to cochlear ossification, which complicates electrode insertion, regardless of the child’s age. The presented case is the youngest recorded patient to undergo cochlear implantation following bacterial meningitis, which resulted in profound sensorineural hearing loss in both ears. CT scans revealed the early stages of cochlear ossification. The procedure was performed within a few weeks of the onset of meningitis and hearing loss diagnosis. The child, an Egyptian national, was fully sponsored by charitable organizations in Kuwait.
Keywords: Meningitis, hearing loss, cochlear implant.
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