[Acoustic perception in patients using a cochlear implant before and after adjustment sessions]

The aim of the study was comparison of perception of pure tones and speech intelligibility in postlingually deaf patients using a cochlear implant before and after elective adjustment sessions. 10 patients were examined: 5 children (age 8-15.5 years) and 5 adults with cochlear implants NUCLEUS CI22 (6 patients) and NUCLEUS CI24 (4 patients) produced by COCHLEAR (Australia). It was found that between the adjustment sessions all the implanted patients showed deteriorated perception of pure tones throughout all the frequencies and therefore their speech intelligibility worsened. The recommended period between the adjustments is 6 months as acoustic perception degraded with time. However, such observations are not significant in view of insufficient material. Objective assessment of acoustic perception is necessary because subjective sensations are not always true.