A new adhesive bone conduction hearing system effectively treats conductive hearing loss in children.

Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, St. Elisabeth-Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.

Published: July 2019

Objectives: Bone conduction hearing devices integrated in softbands (BCDSs) are frequently not well accepted by children with conductive hearing loss due to pressure on the head, sweating, or cosmetic stigma. A non-surgical hearing system (ADHEAR) uses a new bone conduction concept consisting of an audio processor connected to an adhesive adapter fixed behind the ear. This study is the first to evaluate the audiological and clinical outcome of this novel system, comparing it with conventional BCDSs in a short- and mid-term follow-up in children under 10 years of age.

Methods: The ADHEAR was compared to a BCDS in 10 children with conductive hearing loss (age: 0.7-9.7 years). Aided and unaided pure tone/behavioral observational audiometry and, if applicable, speech audiometry in quiet and noise were performed initially with both devices and after 8 weeks with the ADHEAR alone. The subjective hearing gain and usage of the new hearing system, as well as patients' and parents' satisfaction were assessed using questionnaires.

Results: The functional gain with the ADHEAR averaged over 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz exceeded that of the conventional BCDS (35.6 dB ± 15.1 vs. 29.9 dB ± 14.6, p = .001, n = 9 ears). Speech perception in quiet and noise (n = 8) improved in the aided situation similarly for both hearing devices. The parents of 8 of 10 children evaluated the ADHEAR system as being useful. Minor wearing problems occurred occasionally. Eight children continued using the ADHEAR after the study, one received an active middle ear implant and one continued to use a BCDS.

Conclusion: The ADHEAR system is a promising solution for children with conductive hearing loss or chronically draining ears.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijporl.2019.03.014DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

conductive hearing
16
hearing loss
16
bone conduction
12
hearing system
12
children conductive
12
hearing
10
conduction hearing
8
hearing devices
8
quiet noise
8
adhear system
8

Similar Publications

Background: Global aphasia is a severe communication disorder affecting all language modalities, commonly caused by stroke. Evidence as to whether the functional communication of people with global aphasia (PwGA) can improve after speech and language therapy (SLT) is limited and conflicting. This is partly because cognition, which is relevant to participation in therapy and implicated in successful functional communication, can be severely impaired in global aphasia.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Exploring the Hearing Improvement and Parental Stress in Children with Hearing Loss Using Hearing Aids or Cochlear Implants.

J Clin Med

December 2024

Unit of Otorhinolaryngology, Department of Adult and Development Age Human Pathology "Gaetano Barresi", University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy.

This study aims to describe the stress levels experienced by parents of children with hearing loss who use conventional hearing aids or cochlear implants, and to assess the correlation between parental stress and the auditory skills acquired by the children. The study was conducted at the Policlinic "Gaetano Martino" in Messina, evaluating data from 42 pairs of parents of children using hearing aids or cochlear implants. Parents completed the LittlEARS Auditory Questionnaire (LEAQ) and the Parental Stress Scale (PSS) 18 months after the initial device (hearing aid or cochlear implant) had been activated.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Hypothesis: Extracochlear electric-acoustic stimulation (EAS) between the round window membrane and the basal part of the cochlear bone exhibits distinct auditory brainstem response (ABR) characteristics.

Background: The use of EAS in individuals with residual hearing is becoming increasingly common in clinical settings. Ongoing research has explored the characteristics of EAS-induced responses in hearing cochleae.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The aim of this study was to relate response patterns of electrocochleography (ECochG) recordings during cochlear implantation to pre- and postoperative hearing.

Methods: Thirty subjects with either flat (FA, n = 9) or sloping (SA, n = 21) audiograms before cochlear implantation were prospectively included. Real-time ECochG recordings were conducted via the cochlear implant.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Degree of Preoperative Bilateral Hearing Affects Patient-Reported Outcome in Primary Stapedotomy.

Otol Neurotol

January 2025

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head, and Neck Surgery, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Article Synopsis
  • The study examines how unilateral versus bilateral hearing impairments affect patient satisfaction and hearing outcomes after stapedotomy surgery.
  • Over 90% of patients reported hearing improvements post-surgery, but those with unilateral impairment had lower satisfaction compared to those with bilateral impairments.
  • Tinnitus was more prevalent in patients with unilateral hearing issues, indicating additional challenges they faced after the procedure.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!