title: Over-the-fence cochlear implantation: is it worthwhile?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study was to estimate the upper limit of speech perception for cochlear implant candidates.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review of more than 700 cochlear implant users was conducted.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients received their implant through the Quebec Cochlear Implant Program, which is a hospital- and rehabilitation centre-based program.
  
  
  METHODS
  Charts from patients with preimplantation sentence recognition performance exceeding 40% were selected. Postoperative performance was compared with preoperative results.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sentence and word recognition was assessed with a multimedia auditory test battery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Comparison of pre- and postimplantation sentence recognition in the best aided condition shows some theoretical gain up to a 80 to 85% score for in-quiet sentence recognition tests before the surgery. Comparison of preimplantation sentence recognition in the best aided condition and postimplantation word recognition with the implant alone shows some gain up to a 60% score for in-quiet sentence recognition tests before the surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The speech perception selection criteria can confidently be expanded to 60% from a conservative perspective and even up to the 80% range if the use of a contralateral hearing aid is highly expected.
authors.affiliation: Institut de réadaptation en déficience physique de Québec, Quebec City, Canada.
authors.forename: Geneviàve
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tremblay
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bergeron
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferron
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000592:standards*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006309:Hearing / Q000502:physiology*; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome