2012 Volume 33 Issue 1 Pages 23-28
A case of rapidly progressive ossification of the cochlea after bacterial meningitis is reported. An eleven-month-old boy was referred to our hospital due to his loss of response to sound after suffering from meningitis at 8 months old. He did not respond to sound either by BOA or ABR at 105dB nHL. 3D reconstruction imaging with MRI suggested that the cochlea was completely occluded in his right inner ear. Possible progression to his left inner ear was suspected, and cochlear implant in his left ear was performed immediately. Ossification of the cochlea is frequently observed after meningitis. In cases with early and rapidly progressive ossification of the cochlea, repeated audiological evaluation and MRI imaging is indispensable in the follow-up after bacterial meningitis with very young infants.
