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Skyles, Ty J.

A5087796241

Mayo Clinic

Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery

Citations 1

Efficacy of Cochlear Implantation in Kelch-like Protein–11 (KLHL11) IgG–Associated Rhombencephalitis

Otology & Neurotology | June 25, 2026 | Volume: 47 | Issue: 7 | Pages: e923-e926

10.1097/mao.0000000000004935 | PMID 42348851

Objective: To describe cochlear implant outcomes in a patient with bilateral rapidly progressive hearing loss secondary to Kelch-like protein–11 (KLHL11) IgG rhombencephalitis. Patient: A 26-year-old male presenting to neurotology clinic at a tertiary care center for evaluation of bilateral rapidly progressive sensorineural hearing loss, unresponsive to systemic corticosteroid therapy. Interventions: Bilateral simultaneous cochlear implantation. Main Outcome Measures: Postimplant speech testing (CNC word, AzBio sentence scoring), and changes to hearing function with fluctuations in systemic disease symptomatology. Results: Preoperative testing demonstrated poor speech perception (bilateral AzBio sentence in quiet: 43%, right-sided CNCw score: 38%, and left-sided CNCw score: 0%). Despite systemic disease progression of KLHL11-IgG rhombencephalitis, including worsening cerebellar ataxia and dysarthria, cochlear implant performance did not decrease at the time of last follow-up. At 1-year, binaural and monaural speech testing were both significantly improved compared with the 1-month testing (bilateral AzBio sentence in quiet: 91%, right-sided CNCw score: 70%, and left-sided CNCw score: 32%). Conclusions: Cochlear implantation may offer meaningful auditory rehabilitation in patients with KLHL11-IgG associated rhombencephalitis with relative auditory nerve sparing, despite ongoing disease progression. Further studies are required to evaluate the durability and generalizability of cochlear implantation across the spectrum of disease-related hearing loss.