Telephone use: what benefit do cochlear implant users receive?

This study evaluated the use of landline and mobile phones in an international sample of cochlear implant users. A custom-designed survey was mailed to cochlear implant users from four different countries. A link to the survey was posted on the MED-EL website, with responses from a further six countries. Results from 196 surveys show that there is a significant shift from pre-operative non-use of a telephone to use of a telephone post-operatively. Seventy-one percent of MED-EL cochlear implant users are able to use a landline telephone to some extent and 54% are able to use a mobile phone to some extent. Talking to familiar speakers about familiar topics is the easiest listening condition on the telephone, and it is easier to recognize a voice using the landline. Many respondents found it difficult to make a call without some assistance. Most respondents could manage to call someone in an emergency, even on a mobile phone. Data obtained should provide useful information in the counselling and rehabilitation of cochlear implant recipients and candidates.