A new method of partial deafness treatment.

BACKGROUND There is a significant group of patients whose hearing impairment is characterized by normal or slightly elevated thresholds in the low frequency band with nearly total deafness in high frequency range. These patients remain beyond the scope of effective treatment by hearing aids. We name this kind of hearing loss 'partial deafness'. CASE REPORT A new method of partial deafness treatment was applied in the case of a young woman. A partially-inserted cochlear implant was used to restore hearing at high frequencies, while preserving low-frequency acoustic hearing in the implanted ear. CONCLUSIONS The results demonstrate a substantial improvement in speech discrimination and communication skills when electric stimulation on one side was combined with acoustic stimulation on both sides.