The International Cochlear Implant Speech and Hearing Symposium - Melbourne 1994 covered a wide range of presentations in a number of disciplines. The scientific program included 287 oral presentations and 40 posters, presented to a total of 456 delegates from 38 countries. This was a considerable expansion in the number and range of presentations from the first international conference held in Melbourne in 1985 (Ann Otol Rhinal Laryngal 1987;96[suppl 128]). This growth highlights the importance of the discipline and the advances being made in this area.