Cochlear Implant in a Patient with Arnold-Chiari Syndrome

Objective: To verify the efficacy of cochlear implantation in a patient with Arnold-Chiari syndrome. Design: Review of a medical chart from a patient with Arnold-Chiari syndrome that underwent to cochlear implant surgery. Case report: A 6 year-old female, with meningomyelocele and congenital hydrocephalus, deaf in the past 3 years, after meningitis. At that time, she used oral language with adequate speech development. Tone audiometry revealed bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss. The MRI was compatible with the Arnold-Chiari syndrome. Cochlear implantation was performed on the left ear with MED-EL? Implant (model SONATATi100). Currently, the child is 12 year-old, performs speech therapy three times a week, with good hearing and language development. Conclusion: Despite the presence of Arnold-Chiari syndrome (Chiari type II) with neurological disorders and with ventriculoperitoneal shunt, patient had good hearing results after cochlear implant surgery.