title: Cochlear implantation improves localization ability in patients with unilateral deafness.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  One of the major complaints of people with a single-sided deafness is the inability to localize sound sources. Evidence suggests that subjects with a hearing loss can benefit from the use of a cochlear implant (CI) in sound localization. This study aimed to determine the effect of CI use on localization ability in unilaterally deafened subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen adult subjects with postlingual unilateral deafness, fitted with a CI on the deaf side, were included in this study. The auditory speech sounds evaluation (A§E) localization test was used to determine localization with a CI on (binaural) and a CI off (monaural). The root mean square error was used as a measure of the subject's localization performance. Stratified analyses were performed to test the influence of gender, age of implantation (<55 years and >55 years), and the duration of deafness (<10 years and >10 years) on localization ability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects with a CI on localized significantly better than without a CI. Gender, age, and the duration of deafness had no effect on the localization ability of the subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cochlear implantation is effective in improving localization abilities in subjects with unilateral deafness. The root mean square error dropped significantly with binaural hearing compared to monaural hearing.
authors.affiliation: 1Fiona Stanley Hospital, Perth, Australia; Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, School of Surgery, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia; 2Fremantle Hospital, Alma Street, Fremantle, Australia; and 3The Eargroup, University of Antwerp, Antwerp-Deurne, Belgium.
authors.forename: Dayse
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Távora-Vieira
authors.forename: Geert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Ceulaer
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Govaerts
authors.forename: Gunesh P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Rajan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D046088:Hearing Loss, Unilateral / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006320:Hearing Tests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013017:Sound Localization / Q000502:physiology*; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome