title: Cochlear implant after bacterial meningitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this retrospective case study at a tertiary referral center was to investigate the outcome of cochlear implantation (CI) in children with sensorineural hearing loss due to meningitis compared to CI in children with deafness due to other reasons.
  
  
  METHODS
  This post-meningial group (PMG) consisted of 22 children undergoing CI due to deafness induced by meningitis, between December 1996 and January 2012. Five children had bilateral simultaneous implantation. None was excluded and the children were followed for at least 3 years. Operations were carried out by one of two surgeons using similar techniques in all cases. Each patient from the PMG was matched 2:1 with children having implantation for other reasons according to age and follow up (control group).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, the median category of auditory performance (CAP) and speech intelligibility rating (SIR) score were not statistically significantly different between the two groups. The presence of additional central nervous system (CNS) disorders (post-meningeal sequelae), however, correlated significantly with poorer outcome
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CI was a safe procedure without surgical complications in the present study. It is possible to restore auditory capacity and speech performance to a degree comparable to children undergoing implantation for other reasons. A statistically important variable is secondary CNS involvement. The rehabilitation program after CI should be adjusted according to these additional handicaps. It is recommended to screen meningitis patients as fast as possible to identify those with hearing loss and initiate treatment with hearing aids or CI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jesper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bille
authors.forename: Therese
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ovesen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: bacterial meningitis; category of auditory performance; cochlear implantation; control group; speech intelligibility rating