title: Digital processing technology for bone-anchored hearing aids: randomised comparison of two devices in hearing aid users with mixed or conductive hearing loss.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study compared the performance of two new bone-anchored hearing aids with older bone-anchored hearing aids that were not fully digital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen experienced bone-anchored hearing aid users participated in this cross-over study. Performance of their existing bone-anchored hearing aid was assessed using speech-in-noise testing and questionnaires. Participants were then fitted with either a Ponto Pro or a BP100 device. After four weeks of use with each new device, the same assessments were repeated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Speech-in-noise testing for the 50 per cent signal-to-noise ratio (the ratio at which 50 per cent of responses were correct) showed no significant differences between the Ponto Pro and the BP100 devices (p = 0.1) However, both devices showed significant improvement compared with the participants' previous bone-anchored hearing aid devices (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences between the two new devices in the questionnaire data.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both fully digital bone-anchored hearing aids demonstrated superior speech processing compared with the previous generation of devices. There were no substantial differences between the two digital devices in either objective or subjective tests.
authors: Audiology Department, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, UK.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Hill-Feltham
authors: Centre for Biostatistics, Institute of Population Health, Manchester, UK.
authors: S A
authors: SA
authors: Roberts
authors: Audiology Department, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, UK.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Gladdis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006314:Hearing Loss, Conductive / Q000628:therapy*; D046089:Hearing Loss, Mixed Conductive-Sensorineural / Q000628:therapy*; D006320:Hearing Tests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013067:Speech Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires