title: Comparison of outcomes in a case of bilateral cochlear implantation using devices manufactured by two different implant companies (Cochlear Corporation and Med-El).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper reports a case of a patient who has had bilateral cochlear implants that have been manufactured by different cochlear implant companies (Cochlear Corporation and Med-El).
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparison of speech perception tests following single implant insertion and bilateral insertion (3 and 12 months). The patient was also interviewed to obtain a subjective opinion on their quality of hearing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patient reported that their Med-El implant had better sound quality than their Cochlear Corporation implant. The speech perception tests however failed to show any difference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite no difference found with the objective tests hearing is very subjective and therefore the patient's opinion on the quality of sound is important. It is only a matter of time before other patients are fitted with bilateral cochlear implants from different companies and this information should be collated to allow comparison between manufacturers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia. swithers@postoffice.utas.edu.au
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Withers
authors.forename: W P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Greenberg
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bray
mesh_terms: D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D003054:Cochlear Implants / Q000145:classification* / Q000592:standards; D003638:Deafness / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006309:Hearing; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013067:Speech Perception; D052245:Usher Syndromes / Q000150:complications