Provision of hearing aids in patients with audiometrically demonstrable hearing loss can play a very important part in tinnitus control. The additional improvement in tinnitus control observed following introduction of programmable digital aids had a summative effect in the management of these patients.

This prospective questionnaire study investigated access to the Internet and use of the Internet for health related information. Patients attending the senior author's ENT clinic (204 in 2000; 209 in 2006) were asked two questions: do you have access to the Internet? Have you used the Internet to find health related information? Access to the Internet rose from 43 per cent (88) in 2000 to 70 per cent (147) in 2006, a significant increase (p < 0.001). The Internet was used for health related information by only 32 patients (16%) in 2000 but by 114 (55%) in 2006, a dramatic and significant increase (p < 0.001). Clearly patients and their families are increasingly using the Internet to access and seek health information. Clinicians cannot overlook this aspect of health provision when seeking to facilitate the transmission of information to their patients.

Cochlear implantation results in improved hearing in a select group of NF2 patients who have undergone radiation treatment to control their VS.

CT and MRI scans for 48 children with cochlear and/or vestibular abnormality were classified in decreasing severity; common cavity, Mondini plus enlarged vestibular aqueduct, Mondini dysplasia alone and enlarged vestibular aqueduct alone. No significant relationship between degree of cochlea abnormality and surgical issues (cerebrospinal fluid gusher, depth of insertion, number of electrodes) or speech perception/language outcomes was found. A significant relationship was observed between cerebrospinal fluid gusher and partial electrode insertion, fewer active electrodes and poorer sentence understanding. Optimum language outcomes were associated with younger age at implant.

It is common to see cholesterol granuloma in the mastoid air cells, less common in the orbit, and uncommon in the paranasal sinuses. Cholesterol granuloma is thought to be due to an interruption to normal aeration with impaired lymphatic drainage, resulting in a closed cavity where it may form. These expanding cysts cause bone destruction and compression of the surrounding structures that lead to clinical symptoms. Diagnosis and management of cholesterol granuloma cysts can be challenging. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomographic (CT) scans are usually diagnostic. We present a rare case of cholesterol granuloma in the frontal sinus, few cases have been reported in the literature.