CLINICAL EVIDENCE BONE CONDUCTION HEARING THERAPY

COMPARING HEARING OUTCOMES IN IMPLANTABLE AUDITORY DEVICES

The study Comparing Hearing Outcomes in Osseointegrated Implantable Auditory Devices by Darius Kohan, MD was first presented at the Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meetings (COSM) in Chicago, Illinois in 2016.

This study was conducted with the Sophono Alpha 2 MPO device, a predecessor of the Alpha 2 MPO ePlus.

OBJECTIVES AND METHODS

Objective:

• Experiences with 6 types of osseointegrated hearing devices in a group of 26 patients. Retrospective chart review performed from January 2002 through April 2015.

Subjects and Methods:

• A total of 26 patients ( ≥ 18 years old) met inclusion criteria for the study.
• Sophono Alpha 1 (n=5), Sophono Alpha 2 MPO (n=4), BAHA Attract 4 (n=5), BAHA Connect 4 (n=5), BAHA Attract 5 (n=4), BAHA Connect 5 (n=3).
• The minimum follow-up was 6 months. The mean follow-up time was 19.5 months.

CLINICAL HIGHLIGHTS

Surgical Experience:

• Single staged surgeries at an ambulatory center under monitored anesthesia care. No intra- or immediate post-operative complications.
• Late recurring local skin complications with the BAHA-Connect.

MEAN GAIN BY DEVICE

CONCLUSIONS

• The transcutaneous Sophono Alpha 2 MPO provided the highest percentage of maximum PTA gain (86%) while the Baha 4 Attract provided the least (42%).
• The percutaneous BAHA Connect with sound processor #5 afforded the greatest gain in PTA (49 dB), but also had the worst hearing in the unaided ear before implantation (96 dB).
• Percutaneous implants with the latest processors provide the best audition followed by the transcutaneous Sophono Alpha 2 MPO.
• There was a significant amount of late skin complications in the BAHA Connect group.