Long-term Subjective Benefit With a Bone Conduction Implant Sound Processor in 44 Patients With Single-Sided Deafness

Abstract

The majority of the patients reported an overall improvement from using their BCI. However, the number of users decreases during a longer follow-up time and patients get less enthusiastic about the device after an extended period of use, especially in noisy situations. However, diminished satisfaction because of time-related reductions in processor function could not be ruled out.

Bone-anchored hearing implants in single-sided deafness patients: Long-term use and satisfaction by gender

“…The APHAB scores of the first 29 patients were compared over time, and the mean scores for the EC, BN, and RV domains had increased—except for EC, significantly so, by 9 years postfitting compared with at 3 months and 1 year postfitting. Similar results were reported by Desmet et al, with diminished satisfaction over an extended period of use . Possible explanations for this increase in perceived disability might be adaptation to the benefits of the new hearing situation.…”

“…Although the BAHI provides benefits, it also has limitations for patients with SSD, as suggested by the discontinuation of its use by 30% of the patients with the longest period of follow‐up (average of almost 10 years). Desmet et al report a discontinuation of 14% over a period of 50 months, attributing to about 3% per year . Considering the 10 years follow‐up in our study, the discontinuation seems on par with the study of Desmet et al The group of patients implanted after 2003 report a lower rate of discontinuation, namely 14%.…”

The bone conduction implant: Clinical results of the first six patients

“…Furthermore, the physical health score in GBI was worse for the reference device compared to the unaided condition. In the EC, BN, and RV categories, all patients improved with both the BCI and the reference device above the critical 22-point level ( Cox & Alexander, 1995 ), which is unusual in studies of bone conduction devices, where previous investigations have shown improvements of 16 to 34% of the patients ( Desmet et al, 2014 ; de Wolf et al, 2010 ).…”

Functional Results and Subjective Benefit of a Transcutaneous Bone Conduction Device in Patients With Single-Sided Deafness

“…The outcomes of the BBSS and the SSQ-B questionnaires used in this study were generally positive (89%). Only one patient (11 %) was dissatisfied, which corresponds to the findings of others (33).…”