Cochlear Implantation for a Patient with Cytomegalovirus infection Associated with Progressive Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Abstract

Cochlear implantation was performed on a 3-year-old patient with congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection whose initial ABR showed wave V at 105 dB in both ears, but later showed no response at the age of 2 years. After cochlear implantation, she was easily distracted during fitting and rehabilitation, and her response to sounds was inconsistent. Because of her progressive hearing loss, she underwent cochlear implant surgery at the age of three years. Two years after switching-on the cochlear implant, she obtained demonstrable benefit from it, showing improvements in language and hearing. In the case of deterioration of hearing, cochlear implantation can be of great benefit to those with congenital CMV infection at the individual developmental stage if additional problems are thoroughly evaluated and the parents are well informed about the potential linguistic outcomes.