Background: Vestibular symptoms such as vertigo and imbalance are known to occur in some cochlear implant patients during the immediate postoperative period; however, acute vertigo in implanted children occurring remotely from the postoperative period has not been previously well-described. Case presentation: A three-year-old girl with a history of bilateral sequential cochlear implantation presented with acute labyrinthitis associated with sudden onset of vertigo, balance impairment, and decline in right cochlear implant function 2 years after her most recent implant surgery. We describe her audiological and vestibular testing results during both the acute phase and following medical management and recovery. Conclusion: Acute labyrinthitis should be considered when sudden onset vertigo and/or imbalance presents in children with cochlear implants outside of the perioperative period. Such symptoms should prompt early assessment of cochlear implant function, so that the device can be reprogrammed accordingly.
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