Audiological benefit and subjective satisfaction with ADHEAR Hearing System in children with conductive hearing loss

Abstract

Indroduction: The ADHEAR-system (MED-EL, Innsbruck) is a new bone-conduction hearing aid which is adapted to the skin behind the ear without any surgical procedures. It enables the transmission of sound to the inner ear through the cranial bone (boneconduction). In this study, we examined speech perception and subjective hearing sensation as well as the patients' acceptance in children with conductive hearing loss using the ADHEAR system. Method(s): Speech perception in quiet is tested with the Mainzer II and Freiburg monosyllable test (playback level of 65 dB SPL) and in noise with the Mainzer II and the Oldenburg Sentence Test for children (OLKISA) with and without the ADHEAR-system before and after a 4 week period waering the advice. The subjective hearing sensation and the patients' acceptance were assessed with a standardized questionnaire. Data of the first patients (n = 6) will be presented. Result(s): Speech perception in quiet for monosyllables improved by 44%. Speech perception in noise improved by 33%. Speech perception in noise was -0,2 dB SNR without Adhear and -3,4 dB SNR with Adhear on the average. Conclusion(s): The measurements of speech perception in quiet as well as in noise showed a clear improvement using the ADHEAR system compared to the unaided situation. Speech perception in noise also improved by 3,2 dB SNR. The results of the patient survey using a standardized questionnaire verified a high satisfaction and acceptance of the system with a subjectively improved hearing sensation.