Environmental sounds such as tapping, crinkling, knocking, banging, ringing, scratching, ticking sounds and background noise are typically heard long before speech can be readily understood. It may be difficult at first to tune-out the environmental sounds and concentrate on speech. This skill improves with time and experience.

In general, patients are able to detect speech and environmental sounds at comfortable listening levels. The average adult cochlear implant recipient at University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview is able to understand 70% (range of 0-100%) of sentences without lip reading and 92% with lip reading. About 50% of patients are able to communicate well enough to talk on the telephone. Many patients report being less tired at the end of the day when using their implant due to a decreased effort in listening. They report more independence in day-to-day living and better ability to monitor the loudness of their own voices. 
 
The average pediatric cochlear implant recipient at University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview scores a 48% (range of 0-100%) on a standardized single word test after 18 months of cochlear implant use Performance continues to improve over several years after initiating cochlear implant use.

Music appreciation may or may not be enhanced. Because the speech processor is designed to process speech, music enjoyment may or may not return. Single instruments, such as a piano playing a simple tune or a single voice singing may be more enjoyable than a big orchestra or a complex piece with many instruments playing at once.