Extra-cochlear implants: the patient's viewpoint

A subjective questionnaire has been used for assessing cochlear implantees. It provides information on the benefits and the problems found after one year's use as viewed by the patients. This information is important to the management of future subjects for implantation. In three patients with a year's experience of implant use provision of environmental sound and improved speech loudness modulation were the most appreciated benefits. Improved speech reading ability did not emerge as the greatest benefit, except in one case in good listening conditions. Alleviation of tinnitus occurred only to a limited extent, in one patient out of the three.