EARLY AND LONG-TERM RESULTS OF REHABILITA TION IN ADULT COCHLEAR IMPLANT PATIENTS

Background: Cochlear implantation is nowadays a reliable and wellaccep ted method of auditory rehabilitation in selected adults and children. Methods: We present rehabilitation data on 21 adult patients provided with the Nucleus CI22 M(R) cochlear implant using the SPEAK strategy. Results: Results of first tune-up show an open set speech understandi ng in approximately 50% of patients. Long-term results also reveal fur ther improvement in patients who had no open set speech understanding. Our data seem to indicate similar results in comparison to other grou ps using the CIS strategy. Conclusions: In adults, open set speech und erstanding can be achieved even at the first tune-up. Results of early rehabilitation seem to be influenced by duration and etiology of deaf ness, experience with hearing aids, and other factors.