Bilateral cochlear implants in a MELAS patient.

Background: Mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) is a maternally inherited mitochondrial disease that affects various systems in the body, particularly the brain, nervous system, and muscles. Among these systems, sensorineural hearing loss is a common additional symptom.

Methods: A 42-year-old female patient with MELAS who experienced bilateral profound deafness and underwent bilateral sequential cochlear implantation (CIs). Speech recognition and subjective outcomes were evaluated.

Results: Following the first CI follow-up, the patient exhibited improved speech recognition ability and decided to undergo the implantation of the second ear just two months after the initial CI surgery. The second CI also demonstrated enhanced speech recognition ability. Subjective outcomes were satisfactory for bilateral CIs.

Conclusions: MELAS patients receiving bilateral CIs can attain satisfactory post-CI speech recognition, spatial hearing, and sound qualities.