Meningitis and cochlear implantation in Scotland

Meningitis is responsible for a considerable proportion of profoundly deafened children. At the Scottish Cochlear Implant Centre, those attending for cochlear implant assessment with post-meningitic deafness were identified from 1989 to 1999. In those found suitable, findings at surgery were recorded. Meningitis notifications in Scotland from 1988 to 1998 were also studied. Out of 550 patients, 45 were found to have post-meningitic deafness. Of these, 32 were implanted and 12 were rejected. Of those implanted, 10 were affected by cochlear ossification. In five of these patients, a full insertion of a multichannel device was impossible and as a result, auditory rehabilitation was less satisfactory. Meningitis in Scotland appears to have been declining from 1988 to 1998.