We herein report a case of a 63-year-old man with facial nerve palsy and unusual medical history. He reported to ENT outpatient department due to the progression of facial nerve paresis. In the past he experienced a subarachnoid hemorrhage complicated by mouth drooping on the left side. He had also a history of external malignant otitis and exudative otitis media treated with grommet placement. Determining the reason of the progression of facial nerve paresis was not easy. Finally, it turned out that it was caused by cholesteatoma. Presented case shows that symptoms of central and peripheral facial nerve palsy may overlap thus making the diagnosis not obvious.