After suffering from bacterial meningitis, the child received a cochlear implant in Lviv
Bacterial meningitis led to complications that resulted in the boy completely losing his hearing. Otolaryngologists at the Center for Pediatric Medicine performed surgery and implanted a cochlear implant in the child, enabling him to regain his ability to perceive sounds and undergo further rehabilitation.
By the way, about 10% of children may lose their hearing after bacterial meningitis.
A 10-year-old boy from the Lviv region contracted bacterial meningitis. At first, everything resembled a common infection: a high fever of up to 39.6°C, which later subsided. But soon he developed a severe headache, disorientation, and impaired consciousness. Oleksandr was urgently admitted to an infectious diseases hospital.
After several weeks of treatment, the worst seemed to be behind them. But when the boy began to regain consciousness, it became clear: he could no longer hear.
“We spoke to him, and he said he couldn’t hear us. We thought his hearing would return in a few weeks, but that didn’t happen,” recalls the boy’s mother, Tetyana.
Tests confirmed the worst fears: due to complications from meningitis, Oleksandr had almost completely lost his hearing in both ears.
According to pediatric otolaryngologist Fedir Yurochka, head of the Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology Clinic, hearing loss is one of the serious complications of bacterial meningitis that can affect a child’s entire future life.
“Up to 10% of children may lose their hearing after bacterial meningitis. After such damage, the inner ear gradually fills with bone tissue, and then it is no longer possible to restore hearing, even with an implant. That is why we must act quickly—there is only a certain ‘window of opportunity’ to help the child,” the doctor explains.
That is why the team of specialists wasted no time. After consultations and examinations, a decision was made to proceed with cochlear implantation.
The surgery was successfully performed by Fedir Yurochko. Oleksandr received an implant in one ear, and a few months later, in the other ear. The external part of the system has already been connected for the boy. He is currently undergoing rehabilitation.
After the first implant was activated, the patient immediately heard sounds and wanted the implant for his other ear as soon as possible. Since the boy could hear and speak well before the meningitis, very good results were achieved after the implants were activated.
“We’re glad everything went so quickly. That the implant was available in Lviv, so we didn’t have to travel far. The doctors here are excellent. We’re very grateful to everyone who helped our son,” says Oleksandr’s mother.
A large multidisciplinary team worked to save the boy’s hearing: otolaryngologists, infectious disease specialists, audiologists, and anesthesiologists. In particular, Fedir Yurochko, head of the Clinic of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, and doctors Arsen Dumych, Vitaliy Kruk, and Roksolana Kutnevych.
Thanks to their coordinated efforts, Oleksandr can once again hear the world around him.
This is reported in a publication by the Center for Pediatric Medicine at Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital.
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