Bone-Anchored Implantation for Single-Sided Deafness in Patients with Less Than Profound Hearing Loss

Objective. The benefit of bone-anchored implantation (BAI) for the treatment of single-sided deafness (SSD) is well established. In this study, the authors sought to evaluate objective hearing outcomes and subjective benefits in patients undergoing BAI for SSD with residual hearing in the implanted ear. Study Design. Case series with chart review. Setting. Academic tertiary referral center. Subjects and Methods. All adult, English-speaking patients undergoing BAI for SSD from 2004 to 2010 were included. Patients were divided into 2 groups: (1) residual hearing in the affected ear (<= 90 db hearing level [HL] pure-tone average [PTA]) and (2) profound hearing loss in the affected ear (>90 dB HL PTA). Patients underwent pre- and postoperative objective hearing outcomes testing including speech-in-noise and monosyllabic word tests. Subjective outcomes were measured pre- and postoperatively using the Glasgow Hearing Aid Benefit Profile (GHABP). Results. Patients in both groups showed significant improvement in all objective hearing measures following implantation (P < .0001), and there were no significant differences in objective hearing outcomes between groups. Subjective benefits from BAI varied across patients according to GHABP results, but patients with residual hearing in the affected ear trended toward improved satisfaction with their device postoperatively. Conclusion. Individuals with SSD and residual cochlear reserve can be successfully implanted with BAI, achieving significant improvements in objective hearing measures. Postoperative improvements do not seem to correlate with the preoperative audiometric testing scores. Although subjective benefit varies across patients, BAI is clearly a viable rehabilitation option for patients with SSD and less than profound hearing loss.