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Kong TH, Lee J, Kwak C, Han W, Gwon OH, Seo YJ. Audiological benefits and performance improvements of Baha® attract implantation in patients with unilateral hearing loss. Cochlear Implants Int 2021; 22:270-282. [PMID: 33752582 DOI: 10.1080/14670100.2021.1903713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the overall functional and audiological benefits in unilateral hearing loss, as well as performance improvements with Cochlear™ Baha® Attract System with Baha® 5 sound processor. METHODS We performed a prospective study. Fourteen consecutive adult patients with unilateral hearing loss who were audiologically eligible for Baha® Attract were included in this study. All patients were followed-up, and a series of tests were performed in the sound field before surgery, one, two, three, and 6 months after surgery. RESULTS Patients were categorized based on their hearing impairment type and severity. Ten patients had conductive hearing loss (CHL), or mixed hearing loss (MHL), and four patients had sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). The hearing threshold in the sound field aided with Baha® Attract was similar to the preoperative bone conduction hearing threshold of the better ear. The results of the speech audiometry improved post-operatively, but they did not match that of the better ear before surgery. The overall score of the hearing-in-noise test was gradually improved from one month to 6 months after surgery. The results of the sound localization test for SNHL patients were not as good as those for CHL or MHL. All the questionnaires demonstrated additional benefits that implied performance improvements. CONCLUSIONS The Baha® Attract provides enough auditory benefits and performance improvements for hearing impaired patients, though there are different benefits according to the type of hearing loss. Clinicians need to counsel the unilateral hearing loss patients for Baha® Attract System carefully, according to their type of hearing loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tae Hoon Kong
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.,Research Institute of Hearing Enhancement, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea
| | - Jihyeon Lee
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.,Research Institute of Hearing Enhancement, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea
| | - Chanbeom Kwak
- Laboratory of Hearing Technology, Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, Graduate School, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Korea.,Division of Speech Pathology and Audiology, College of Natural Sciences, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Korea
| | - Woojae Han
- Laboratory of Hearing Technology, Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, Graduate School, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Korea.,Division of Speech Pathology and Audiology, College of Natural Sciences, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Korea
| | - O-Hyeon Gwon
- Research Institute of Hearing Enhancement, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yonsei University College of Health Science, Wonju, Korea
| | - Young Joon Seo
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.,Research Institute of Hearing Enhancement, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea
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