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Copyright of HNO is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of HNO is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of HNO is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objectives: The success of cochlear implantation in postlingually deafened adults is usually measured by puretone and speech audiometry. However, the WHO states in the ICF that rehabilitation should also be assessed according to individual communication skills, social participation and quality of life. We developed and implemented a questionnaire that focuses on everyday communication and allows comparison between people with normal and impaired hearing. A parallel version for assessment of the CI-users' communication by their significant other was also developed. Additionally, we assessed social participation and quality of life of CI-users before implantation and with 4 months CI experience Sources and methods: In a prospective pilot study, five post-lingually and progressively deafened participants (55-80 yrs) and their significant others answered questionnaires concerning communication behaviour (questionnaire developed by the authors), social and emotional handicap (HHIA, HHIE, HII-SOP) [1-3], and quality of life (AQoL-6D) [4] at two timepoints: before implantation and with 4 months CI experience. Hearing ability was measured using pure-tone and speech audiometry and the SSQ [5]. Five matched normal-hearing participants served as controls. Results: Participants with 4 months CI experience reported fewer misunderstandings, higher communicative success and less communicative effort than before implantation, though they did not reach the level of normal-hearing controls on these measures. CI users still often pretend that they have understood spoken communication and are still dependent on their significant other. They wish for further communicative success and greater independence. Conclusion: Cochlear implantation alone does not lead to normal communication behaviour and social participation. These issues and the role of the significant other should also be focused on in rehabilitation alongside auditory training. Apart from the AQoL-6D the questionnaires used in this study proved to be suitable instruments for documenting the course of rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]