Before discussing the unfavorable results of stapes mobilization surgery, it is necessary to determine just what constitutes a favorable or unfavorable result. Many methods have been used to report favorable results. Such methods include a certain amount of decibel improvement, averaged in the three speech frequencies or in the two best of the three speech frequencies; closure of the air-bone gap in varying degrees, and attainment of the 30 db. level averaged in the three speech frequencies. After the patient has been completely evaluated psychologically, physically, and audiometrically, a decision can be made by the surgeon as to just what he is striving to attain by mobilization surgery for a particular patient. Perhaps success means to get rid of the hearing aid by attaining serviceable hearing. Perhaps the surgeon is striving to improve the patient's hearing so that hearing will be better with a hearing aid. Achieving whatever the surgeon