Preliminary Functional Results and Quality of Life After Implantation of a New Bone Conduction Hearing Device in Patients With Conductive and Mixed Hearing Loss

Objective: To review functional results and quality of life of the first patients implanted with a newly introduced bone conduction implant system. Study Design: Retrospective chart analysis of 6 patients (6 ears) implanted for conductive hearing loss (CHL) and mixed hearing loss (MHL) in 1 tertiary referral center between July 2012 and February 2013. Methods: Implantation of a new bone conduction hearing device. Pure tone audiometry (air conduction and bone conduction thresholds, pure tone average, air-bone gap, and functional gain), speech audiometry (Freiburg Monosyllabic Test), intraoperative and postoperative complication rate, and patient satisfaction (Glasgow benefit inventory [GBI]) were assessed. Results: Air-conduction pure tone average (PTA) was 58.8 +/- 8.2 dB HL. Unaided average air-bone gap (ABG) was 33.3 +/- 6.2 dB. Aided air-conduction PTA in sound field was 25.2 +/- 5.1 dB HL. Aided average ABG was -0.3 +/- 7.3 dB. Average functional gain was 33.6 +/- 7.2 dB. Mean improvement of GBI was +36.1. No intraoperative complications occurred. During a follow-up period of 8.5 +/- 2.2 months, no device failure and no need for revision surgery occurred. Conclusion: Audiometric results of the new bone conduction hearing system are satisfying and comparable to the results of devices that have been applied previously for CHL and MHL. Intraoperatively and postoperatively, no complications were noted. Level of Evidence: 4 (Individual retrospective cohort study) Level of Evidence: 4 (Individual retrospective cohort study)