[Postmeningitis deafness in young children: action warranted before obliteration of the cochlea]

Meningitis may cause inflammation of the cochlea, which may result in deafness and also in rapid obliteration ofthe cochlea with fibrous tissue or even ossification, conditions that obstruct the placement ofa cochlear implant. In the first of two cases of postmeningitis deafness, in a boy aged 6 months and a girl aged 1 year and 9 months, ignorance about the time of audiological follow-up threatened the options for restoration of hearing. In the other case, a long diagnostic programme and an unsuccessful attempt at cochlear implantation caused a long delay in optimal restoration of hearing. Both cases illustrate the difficulties in connection with postmeningitis deafness in relation to the option of a cochlear implant operation. To increase the chances of a successful implantation, the time span between meningitis and audiological and radiological follow-up must be short. Auditory brain stem responses (ABR) and MRI are the keystones of the work-up.