title: Self-reported benefit, sound perception, and quality-of-life in patients with auditory brainstem implants (ABIs).
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of the patients used their auditory brainstem implants (ABIs) all the time, reporting that he/she would make the decision to receive an implant again if the decision were reconsidered. The findings support that the ABI is a valuable treatment in patients with type 2 neurofibromatosis (NF2) and in children with congenital inner ear and nerve anomalies or cochlear ossification.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the patients who underwent ABI implantation in Uppsala during 1993-2013. This study analyzed patients' implant use, perception of environmental sounds, perceived benefit from the implant, and quality-of-life (QoL).
  
  
  METHODS
  The NF2-patients (n = 20) comprised the majority of the patients, and there were a few non-NF2 pediatric patients (n = 4). The exclusion criteria included deceased patients (n = 4) and patients with no hearing sensations from the implant, or those with an inactivated ABI (n = 2). The data were collected from a questionnaire survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eleven adult patients and two pediatric patients answered the questionnaires. Eight of the adult patients used their implants 'always'. The two children always used their implants. Hearing problems had the largest negative effect on the QoL. The non-users and the users scored equally on the NFTI-QoL.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Surgical Sciences, Section of Otorhinolaryngology, and Head & Neck Surgery , Uppsala University , Uppsala , Sweden.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lundin
authors.affiliation: a Department of Surgical Sciences, Section of Otorhinolaryngology, and Head & Neck Surgery , Uppsala University , Uppsala , Sweden.
authors.forename: Fredrik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stillesjö
authors.affiliation: a Department of Surgical Sciences, Section of Otorhinolaryngology, and Head & Neck Surgery , Uppsala University , Uppsala , Sweden.
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nyberg
authors.affiliation: a Department of Surgical Sciences, Section of Otorhinolaryngology, and Head & Neck Surgery , Uppsala University , Uppsala , Sweden.
authors.forename: Helge
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rask-Andersen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D038263:Auditory Brain Stem Implantation; D038262:Auditory Brain Stem Implants; D001307:Auditory Perception; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016518:Neurofibromatosis 2 / Q000150:complications; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D057566:Self Report; D013548:Sweden; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Auditory brainstem implants; NF2; QoL; benefit