title: Surgical, functional and audiological evaluation of new Baha(®) Attract system implantations.
abstract: Bone-anchored hearing aids are well-established solutions for treatment of hearing-impaired patients. However, classical systems with percutaneous abutments have disadvantages concerning aesthetics, hygiene and adverse soft tissue reactions. The study aimed to evaluate surgical, functional and audiological results of a new Baha(®) Attract system, in which the sound processor is attached by magnetic force. Twenty patients implanted with a Baha(®) Attract system were divided into two groups: A-bilateral mixed and conductive hearing loss, B-single-sided deafness, and evaluated during a 6-month follow-up. Parameters analysed comprised: (1) surgery and wound healing, (2) postoperative functional results (GBI, APHAB and BAHU questionnaires), (3) audiological results (free field speech in noise audiometry in two situations: with signal from implant side and from contralateral side). Obtained results revealed: mean time of surgery-44 min, soft tissue reduction-30 %, bone polishing-20 %, haematoma-10 %. Functional results showed: GBI total score-29.6 points, APHAB global score mean gain-23.5 %, BAHU 'good or very good' score for: aesthetic-85 %, hygiene-100 %, ease of placing the processor-100 %, stability of attraction-75 %. Audiological results-mean gain for the two analysed situations: 32.9 % (group A-36.5 %, group B-27.5 %). To conclude, the data obtained prove the safety and effectiveness of the Baha(®) Attract system in patients with conductive and mixed hearing loss as well as in patients with single-sided deafness. Cosmetic aspects are highly acceptable and the idea of Attract itself is important for patients with limited manual dexterity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Laryngological Oncology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland. wojgaw@interia.pl.
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gawęcki
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Laryngological Oncology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Olgierd Maciej
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Stieler
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Laryngological Oncology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balcerowiak
authors.affiliation: KIND Hearing Therapy Centre, Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Dariusz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Komar
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Laryngological Oncology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gibasiewicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Phoniatrics and Audiology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karlik
authors.affiliation: Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szyfter-Harris
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Laryngological Oncology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wróbel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001299:Audiometry; D001844:Bone Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Baha® Attract; Bilateral mixed hearing loss; Bone conduction; Bone polishing; Single-sided deafness; Transcutaneous