The Scheibe cochlea deformity with macrocephaly: a case for single channel implantation

An 11-year-old congenitally deaf child with bilateral primitive common cavity (Scheibe type) cochleosaccular dysplasia and benign familial macrocephaly was implanted with an extracochlear single channel device with an ear level speech processor. This paper describes the assessment, findings, dilemmas in decision making, surgical procedure and the favourable outcome after implanting. The relevant literature has been reviewed and our case is presented for the unusual combination of features.