The Glasgow Benefit Plot: a new method for reporting benefits from middle ear surgery.

Conventionally, the results of middle ear surgery are reported in terms of postoperative closure of the air-bone gap or the improvement in air-conduction thresholds. While these are relevant in that they assess the technical success of the procedure and the lessening of monaural disability, they do not necessarily assess whether the patient has benefited. This is determined by many factors, not least of which is the hearing in the nonoperated ear.