Efficacy of the bone-anchored hearing aid for single-sided deafness.
OBJECTIVE
The aim was to examine short- and long-term efficacy of the bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA) on adults with single-sided deafness.


METHODS
Prospective investigation.


METHODS
The outcome measures included the Hearing in Noise Test (HINT), Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB), and Single-Sided Deafness Questionnaire (SSD). The BAHA group comprised seven adults with single-sided deafness and the control group comprised 20 adults with essentially normal-hearing sensitivity, bilaterally. The outcome measures were administered in the unaided, directional BAHA, and omnidirectional BAHA conditions after 1 month, 6 months, and 12 months of BAHA use. A repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) model was used to evaluate the data (for the SSD, a nonparametric analog of ANOVA was employed).


RESULTS
None of the factors (time, HINT condition, amplification status) or their interactions were significant predictors of change in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) from baseline over time on the HINT. The mean SNR (non-baseline-subtracted) was significantly lower in the directional BAHA versus the unaided status and in the omnidirectional BAHA versus the unaided status, but only under the noise in front, speech lateralized to the bad ear HINT condition. Significant short- and long-term BAHA benefit was observed on the APHAB (all subscales except Aversiveness) and SSD (all questionnaire items).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results show short- and long-term efficacy for the BAHA in adults with single-sided deafness for recognition of speech in noise (noise in front, speech lateralized to the bad ear) and on subjective measures of benefit.
Linstrom
Christopher J
CJ
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Ear Institute, New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, New York, New York 10003, USA.
Silverman
Carol A
CA
Yu
Guo-Pei
GP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006310:Hearing Aids; D046088:Hearing Loss, Unilateral / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008416:Mastoid / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation; D016896:Treatment Outcome