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Cochlear implantation for severe sensorineural hearing loss caused by lightning
Nam-Suk Myung1, Il-Woo Lee, Eui-Kyung Goh
1Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Gyeongnam, Korea.
Abstract:
Lightning strike can produce an array of clinical symptoms and injuries. It may damage multiple organs and cause auditory injuries ranging from transient hearing loss and vertigo to complete disruption of the auditory system. Tympanic-membrane rupture is relatively common in patients with lightning injury. The exact pathogenetic mechanisms of auditory lesions in lightning survivors have not been fully elucidated. We report the case of a 45-year-old woman with bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss caused by a lightning strike, who was successfully rehabilitated after a cochlear implantation.
Insights
Lightning strikes can cause severe hearing loss. Cochlear implantation successfully restored hearing in a patient with profound sensorineural hearing loss after a lightning strike.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Otolaryngology
- Traumatology
Background:
- Lightning strikes are known to cause diverse clinical symptoms and injuries.
- Auditory system damage, including tympanic membrane rupture, is a documented consequence of lightning injury.
- The precise mechanisms underlying auditory lesions in lightning survivors remain unclear.
Observation:
- A 45-year-old woman experienced bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss following a lightning strike.
- This case highlights a severe, yet potentially treatable, auditory outcome of electrical trauma.
Findings:
- The patient presented with complete loss of hearing in both ears attributed to the lightning incident.
- Despite the severity of the hearing loss, the patient was a candidate for advanced auditory rehabilitation.
Implications:
- This case demonstrates the potential for significant auditory damage from lightning strikes.
- Successful cochlear implantation offers a viable treatment option for profound hearing loss caused by lightning trauma.
- Further research into the pathogenetic mechanisms of lightning-induced auditory injury is warranted.