title: Analysis of factors predicting the success of the bone conduction device headband trial in patients with single-sided deafness.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine factors predicting whether patients with single-sided deafness (SSD) opt for a bone conduction device (BCD) for the contralateral routing of sound (CROS) after a regular trial with a BCD on a headband.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty consecutive patients with SSD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients received a trial with a BCD headband as part of the regular workup for SSD. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to their decision to opt for a BCD (BCD+) or not (BCD-).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients completed a questionnaire on satisfaction with the BCD headband, patient- and BCD-related factors, and benefit in listening situations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fourteen patients (47%) chose a percutaneous BCD application after the BCD headband trial. Hearing loss of the contralateral ear at 4.0 kHz was significantly larger in the BCD+ group for bone and air conduction (P = .05 and P = .02, respectively). Patients in the BCD+ group experienced more problems in several listening situations and used the BCD headband more frequently than patients did in the BCD- group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Several individual factors influence the decision of patients with SSD to opt for a BCD. Hearing loss in the contralateral ear at high frequencies seems to be a relevant factor to predict the success of the BCD headband trial. It is advisable to offer all patients with SSD the option to participate in the BCD headband trial for at least 1 week and create a realistic expectation for patients based on their unaided subjective hearing handicaps.
authors.forename: Hubert T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Faber
authors.forename: Hanneke
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kievit
authors.forename: Maarten J F
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: de Wolf
authors.forename: Cor W R J
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Cremers
authors.forename: Ad F M
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Snik
authors.forename: Myrthe K S
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Hol
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001844:Bone Conduction / Q000502:physiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006310:Hearing Aids; D046088:Hearing Loss, Unilateral / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome