Cochlear implantation in Refsum's disease

Refsum's disease is a rare disorder characterized by accumulation of phytanic acid in plasma and tissues. The main clinical features are retinitis pigmentosa, cerebellar ataxia and chronic polyneuropathy. Sensorineural hearing loss of varying severity can be an additional feature. This study reports our experience with two patients with Refsum's disease who underwent successful cochlear implantation. Both patients had good audiological outcomes after implantation and were overall very satisfied. Bilateral implantation should be considered with patients with severe dual sensory loss. One patient was implanted bilaterally the other unilaterally, primarily due to prolonged duration of unaided unilateral profound hearing loss.