Hailed by nothing short of a miracle by many people, the cochlear implant is a special type of hearing aid that allows the profoundly deaf to function in the world. But it seems that it may also be linked to meningitis.

Studies done back in 2007 showed that Meningitis occurred at dramatically higher rates among the 80,000 people who had undergone cochleal implant since the 1980s,and sadly in most of these cases, the person died.

A marked increase in infections since 2002, was noted and linked to a particular design that was withdrawn the same year. But it is thought that the cases of menningitis may also have been and still could be associated to the operation itself when the implant is inserted, as the actual operation itself involves fracturing the bony structures of the inner ear. People who suffer from the ear disease otitis media are thojhght to be especially at risk.