title: Efficacy and safety of an in-the-mouth bone conduction device for single-sided deafness.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the efficacy, benefit, and safety of a new in-the-mouth bone conduction device (SoundBite Hearing System) for single-sided deafness (SSD).
  
  
  METHODS
  A multicenter, controlled, nonrandomized prospective unblinded study of SSD patients wearing the device.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ambulatory care centers typical of those where SSD patients are diagnosed and treated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adults (ages >18 and <80 yr) with acquired, permanent SSD (N=28) and no current use of any SSD device.
  
  
  METHODS
  Continual daily wear of the new device over a 30-day trial period.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Hearing in Noise Test (HINT), the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB), comprehensive pretrial and posttrial medical, audiologic, and dental examinations and an SSD questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Hearing in Noise Test scores improved an average of -2.5 dB after 30 days, compared with wearing no device (p<0.001). The Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit scores improved (p<0.05) for all subjects for the Global and Background Noise subscales and for all but 1 subject for the Reverberation and Ease of Communication subscales. There were no medical, audiologic, or dental complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The SoundBite system is safe and effective and provides substantial benefit for SSD patients with continual daily use over a 30-day period.
authors.affiliation: Camino Ear Nose and Throat, San Jose, California, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: Gerald R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Popelka
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001844:Bone Conduction; D005260:Female; D006310:Hearing Aids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D046088:Hearing Loss, Unilateral / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome