Outcomes with bilateral cochlear implantation following sudden dual sensory loss after ethylene glycol poisoning

Abstract

Acute loss of vision accompanied by profound loss of hearing is fortunately rare, but has a catastrophic effect on both the patient and their family. Re-establishing communication and spatial awareness are high priorities. We describe the case of a 45 year-old man who presented as a result of poisoning by ethylene glycol. Following assessment by clinicians who learned the deaf-blind alphabet in order to communicate, he had his hearing successfully rehabilitated with simultaneous bilateral cochlear implants. The patient recovered the ability to understand speech near perfectly in quiet, to attend to the ear giving the clearer signal in noise, and to localise sources of sound. The patient reported that the latter skill facilitated mobility. This is the first reported case of a patient with acute dual sensory loss due to ethylene glycol poisoning benefiting from bilateral cochlear implants.

Keywords:

• Blindness
• Cochlear implants
• Sensorineural hearing loss
• Cranial nerves
• Ethylene glycol
• Poisoning
• Simultaneous implantation

Acknowledgement

Pádraig Kitterick is supported by a post-doctoral research fellowship from Advanced Bionics SARL.