title: A Comparative Study of Audiologic Outcomes for Two Transcutaneous Bone-Anchored Hearing Devices.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In 1977, Tjellstrom et al. used the concept of osseointegration and implanted patients with a titanium screw as part of the first bone-anchored hearing solution. Despite good hearing outcomes with the percutaneous device, there has been a drive for the development of transcutaneous bone conduction systems because of soft tissue complications, aesthetics, and loss or failure of the abutment. This study compares audiologic and quality of life questionnaire outcomes (author-designed questionnaire) for two transcutaneous bone conduction implants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary referral hospital and national audiology service.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve patients, 10 children and two adults. Six recipients of each device.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pure-tone audiometry, aided thresholds, speech discrimination scores, and quality of life questionnaire results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The unaided four-frequency average air conduction for affected ears was 60.8 dB HL for the Attract group and 57.8 dBHL for the Sophono group; these improved to mean aided thresholds of 30.6 dB HL and 29.8 dB HL, respectively. Therewas no statistical difference between the speech discrimination scores for the two devices in quiet at 55 dB SPL (p = 0.33) orin noise (p = 0.87).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both systems provide audiologic benefit compared with the unaided situation. Comparing small numbers of patients, there was no significant difference in aided thresholds or speech discrimination scores between these two transcutaneous bone-anchored implants. All Attract and Sophono users reported improvement in quality of life and would recommend their device to others in a similar situation.
authors.affiliation: *Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital, London, United Kingdom †Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney ‡Sydney Children's Hospital Network (Children's Hospital at Westmead) §The Sydney Cochlear Implant Centre, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Harry R F
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.forename: Alison M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Rolfe
authors.forename: Catherine S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Birman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001844:Bone Conduction; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006309:Hearing; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006314:Hearing Loss, Conductive / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009622:Noise; D016348:Osseointegration; D011788:Quality of Life; D013063:Speech Discrimination Tests; D013067:Speech Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D053441:Suture Anchors; D016896:Treatment Outcome