title: Patient satisfaction after auditory implant surgery: ten-year experience from a single implanting unit center.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  The satisfaction rate of the subjects with an auditory implant appears strictly related to the resulting auditory improvement, and the surgical variables would play a prevailing role in respect to the esthetic factors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the rate of satisfaction in subjects who underwent the surgical application of an auditory device at a single Implanting Center Unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  A series of validated questionnaires has been administered to subjects who underwent the surgical application of different auditory devices. The Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI), the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB) have been used to compare the implanted situation with the hearing-aided one; a percutaneous bone conductive implant (pBCI) with an active middle ear implant (AMEI) on the round window in mixed hearing loss; and an invisible, fully-implantable device with a frankly and bulky semi-implantable device.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean GBI scores were higher in Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB)®and Bonebridge®subjects, without significant differences among the various devices. The mean VAS score increased for all the devices in comparison with the conventional hearing aid. The mean APHAB score was similarly better in the implanted condition as total and partial scores.
authors.affiliation: a NESMOS Department, ENT Clinic, Medicine and Psychology , Sapienza University , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Simonetta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Monini
authors.affiliation: a NESMOS Department, ENT Clinic, Medicine and Psychology , Sapienza University , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.affiliation: a NESMOS Department, ENT Clinic, Medicine and Psychology , Sapienza University , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Talamonti
authors.affiliation: a NESMOS Department, ENT Clinic, Medicine and Psychology , Sapienza University , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Atturo
authors.affiliation: a NESMOS Department, ENT Clinic, Medicine and Psychology , Sapienza University , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Filippi
authors.affiliation: a NESMOS Department, ENT Clinic, Medicine and Psychology , Sapienza University , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barbara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009998:Ossicular Prosthesis / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011788:Quality of Life; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Auditory implants; Glasgow benefit inventory; abbreviated profile of hearing aid benefit; active middle ear implants; bone conductive implants; visual analog scale