A total of 120 subjects with hearing loss (75 men, 45 women), within the age range 18–70 years (mean, 38 years), and 15 normal subjects were administered a modified Hindi adaptation of the ‘self assessment of communication’ hearing loss inventory. The study aimed to determine whether there was any correlation between subjects' average pure tone thresholds and their inventory scores. Data was analysed using the Pearson coefficient of correlation and regression analysis. A negative correlation was obtained stating that the greater the hearing loss, the lower the inventory score. An equation could also be derived for the bilateral symmetrical sensorineural hearing loss group and the bilateral symmetrical conductive hearing loss group to enable calculation of patients' average hearing loss from their inventory scores, in the absence of an audiogram. This could aid rehabilitation in cases with either type of hearing loss (in which no medical intervention was required) when pure tone audiometry is not possible.

The aims of this study were to verify whether cochlear implants helped profoundly deaf adults to maintain or even to develop their professional occupations, and to identify other elements that may contribute to or, on the contrary, impede such patients' professional success. All adult patients received a questionnaire concerning their professional activities before and after implantation. Demographic data, health information, hearing performance and degree of satisfaction with the implant were also considered. Sixty-seven adults had been implanted, with three different devices, since 1985. At the time of implantation, 34 had been professionally active. After implantation, 29 had remained professionally active, four of whom reported positive developments in their careers. Five patients had become professionally inactive. Those patients who had previously been professionally inactive remained so. There had been no difference in performance, either between different types of cochlear implants or between professionally active or inactive patients. The implanted patients had kept their jobs and many of them had developed their professional skills. In spite of this, cochlear implants may still be perceived as proving insufficiently satisfactory hearing to enable professionally inactive patients to reintegrate and to facilitate further learning or career developments.

Sensorineural hearing loss has not been previously reported in patients with the Marinesco-Sjögren Syndrome. Two siblings are described where hearing was initially normal but subsequently deteriorated.