RESUMEN
AIM: To compare the audiometric thresholds and speech perception sentence test, between two groups with bilateral post-lingual, severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss. METHODS: Retrospective and analytical study, with 59 patients divided into 2 groups (under 60 years and above 60 years old) implanted between May/2002 and February/2007. RESULTS: The first group (control) included 30 patients with a mean age of 44 years. The audiometric threshold value in this group was 26 dB, and the average value of speech perception test was 94%. The second group included 29 patients with a mean age of 69 years. The average audiometric threshold was 29 dB, and the average value of SPT was 90%. The Mann-Whitney U-test was considered significant (P<0.05) only for 6-8 KHz frequencies and for SPT. CONCLUSION: Both groups had excellent outcomes in audiometric and speech testing with the use of CI, but with a significantly better performance in the adult group.