[Bilateral complete deafness following head injury in a child]

A case of head injury is reported because it presented such an unusual symptom as sudden, bilateral complete deafness. An 11-year-old boy was involved in a traffic accident while riding on a bicycle. He was admitted immediately after the accident in semicomatose state. The pupils were isocoric and pupillary light reflex was normal. Conjugate deviation to the right was seen. Oculo-cephalic response was absent. X-rays of his skull showed two linear fractures in the occipital bone. CT scan of the head showed symmetrical ventricular dilatation which was suspected to be a sequela of asphyxia at his birth although there was no obvious finding of cerebral contusion. His mental and physical development had been uneventful. One week after admission, his consciousness improved to some extent and at that time right hemiparesis and right infranuclear facial palsy were revealed. One month after the accident, he became alert and able to eat and to read the books on the bed, and then bilateral deafness was noticed. Audiometry showed that hearing was lost completely to both high and low notes, and there was absence of bone conduction bilaterally. Auditory brainstem response test revealed no response from wave I through wave V bilaterally. Right hemiparesis and right infranuclear facial palsy completely subsided and his mental and intellectual state became normal. He was discharged ambulatorily in good condition except for bilateral complete deafness. Now he is leading a useful life and attending a prefectural deaf and mute school.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)