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Outcomes after Bonebridge Implantation: Audiological Benefits and Health Related Quality of Life

Giovanni Bianchin, Valeria Polizzi, Patrizia Formigoni and Lorenzo Tribi

Objective: Bone conduction implants (BCI) are medical devices for conductive and mixed hearing losses as well as for single side sensorineural deafness (SSD). All direct-drive BCI transmit vibrations directly to the skull bone and can be divided into percutaneous and active transcutaneous devices.

Method: We report a case series of 10 patients, suffered from mixed or conductive hearing loss, submitted to Bonebridge implantation. Audiological evaluation was conducted at six months to observe the functional impact of this device. Patients were asked to answer the Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI), a retrospective questionnaire, to measure the effect of the surgical intervention on the health-related quality of life.

Results: The functional gain was found to range from 25 dB to 40 dB. Speech perception in noise improves in all patients and no post-operative complications were observed. GBI questionnaire has reflected high device satisfaction rate.

Conclusion: Active transcutaneous BCI represent an effective and safety solution for people that cannot have adequate benefit from conventional hearing aids, to restore good audiological performance and life satisfaction.