Background: Meningitis is an acquired disease that is known to cause hearing loss. In cases with profound hearing loss, cochlear implantation (CI) is an urgent requirement due to the risk of ossification of the cochlea. However, when hearing loss is not significant enough to meet guidelines for CI, hearing is monitored closely. There is limited evidence on the length of time advised for ongoing surveillance of hearing. This audit will help us review our current pathway for post-meningitis referrals to determine if there is any need for a change to our current practice
Objectives: Review of hearing loss progression and management of post-meningitis patients who did not meet NHIVRC guidelines for CI in one or both ears.
Method: A retrospective review of all post-meningitis paediatric patients seen in National Hearing Implant and Viani Research Centre (NHIVRC) from its inception in 1995 up to 31 January, 2023. Data was collected via chart review and medical records from the hospital’s patient management system. Inclusion criteria: Post-meningitis patients who did not meet CI guidelines in one or both ears. Exclusion criteria: Post-meningitis patients who had a rapid onset bilateral profound hearing loss and underwent bilateral CI.
Results: Data collection found 8 patients who met the inclusion criteria with an age range from 2 months to 13 years (mean = 3.29 years) at the time of referral. Seven patients (87.5%) had bacterial meningitis; one patient (12.5%) had meningitis of unknown culture. Onset of hearing loss was found to be within 1 month post meningitis for 50% (n=4) of the patients. 25% (n=2) had an onset of hearing loss between 1-3 months and 12.5% (n=1) had an onset between 3-6months. One patient (12.55%) had an onset of hearing loss 3 years after meningitis. There was no further deterioration of hearing in 5 out of eight patients (62.5%). Deterioration of hearing (> 10dB) was noted in 3 patients at five years post meningitis inat least one ear (37.5%).
Conclusion: Long-term surveillance of hearing for post-meningitis patients is recommended. No signs of ossification was noted on pre-operative MRI or on surgical notes despite significant lengths of time past from onset of meningitis, which may be due to the type of causative pathogen.meningitis patients with delayed onset hearing loss.

**Background:** Meningitis is an acquired disease that is known to cause hearing loss. In cases with profound hearing loss, cochlear implantation (CI) is an urgent requirement due to the risk of ossification of the cochlea. However, when hearing loss is not significant enough to meet guidelines for CI, hearing is monitored closely. There is limited evidence on the length of time advised for ongoing surveillance of hearing. This audit will help us review our current pathway for post-meningitis referrals to determine if there is any need for a change to our current practice
**Objectives:** Review of hearing loss progression and management of post-meningitis patients who did not meet NHIVRC guidelines for CI in one or both ears.
**Method:** A retrospective review of all post-meningitis paediatric patients seen in National Hearing Implant and Viani Research Centre (NHIVRC) from its inception in 1995 up to 31 January, 2023. Data was collected via chart review and medical records from the hospital’s patient management system. Inclusion criteria: Post-meningitis patients who did not meet CI guidelines in one or both ears. Exclusion criteria: Post-meningitis patients who had a rapid onset bilateral profound hearing loss and underwent bilateral CI.
**Results:** Data collection found 8 patients who met the inclusion criteria with an age range from 2 months to 13 years (mean = 3.29 years) at the time of referral. Seven patients (87.5%) had bacterial meningitis; one patient (12.5%) had meningitis of unknown culture. Onset of hearing loss was found to be within 1 month post meningitis for 50% (n=4) of the patients. 25% (n=2) had an onset of hearing loss between 1-3 months and 12.5% (n=1) had an onset between 3-6months. One patient (12.55%) had an onset of hearing loss 3 years after meningitis. There was no further deterioration of hearing in 5 out of eight patients (62.5%). Deterioration of hearing (> 10dB) was noted in 3 patients at five years post meningitis inat least one ear (37.5%).
**Conclusion:** Long-term surveillance of hearing for post-meningitis patients is recommended. No signs of ossification was noted on pre-operative MRI or on surgical notes despite significant lengths of time past from onset of meningitis, which may be due to the type of causative pathogen.meningitis patients with delayed onset hearing loss.

Audit of the post-meningitis patient pathway at the National Hearing Implant and Viani Research Centre (NHIVRC) at Beaumont Hospital

It is with great pleasure and enthusiasm, that on behalf of the Cochlear Implant centers of the Radboud UMC in Nijmegen and Erasmus MC Sophia Children’s Hospital in Rotterdam to invite you to attend the 16th European Symposium on Pediatric Cochlear Implantation to Rotterdam, the Netherlands in 2023.

Yours sincerely, on behalf of the CI Centers at Radboud UMC and Erasmus MC,