Audiological Benefit and Improved Quality of Life With Two Bone Conduction Systems: ADHEAR vs. Bonebridge in Experienced Users

Overview

Patients implanted with a Bonebridge will be asked to be part of the study. The study subjects are enrolled into the study according to inclusion criteria. Patients will be asked to wear an adhesive bone conduction device an adapt to it for 30-60 min. After this time period patients will be asked to use the adhesive device instead of the Bonebridge for 3 weeks. Audiologic Tests and quality of life questionnaires will be assessed at the beginning of the study and at the end of three weeks.

Phase 1 Patients will be fitted with an adhesive bone conduction device and asked to fill out two questionnaires. They will then wear the device for 30-60 minutes and decide if they want to wear the device for the remaining study time of three weeks. Patients who do not have sufficient benefit from the device or do not feel comfortable with it do not enter the second study period of wearing the device for three weeks. Patients will be asked to comment on their experiences after 30 to 60 minutes explaining why they do not want to enter the second part of the study if they feel comfortable sharing this information. Phase 2 Patients, in the second study period, will be asked to wear the hearing device as long as comfortable to them every day and mark time of device usage, battery life, changes of the adhesive adapter, sound quality and comfort related remarks in a diary. After three weeks patients will return to the outpatient ́s department for an audiological assessment and a second set of quality of hearing and quality of life questionnaire. No patients will be implanted with a Bonebridge as part of the study. Audiologic testing consists of sound field audiometry, Freiburg monosyllables test and Oldenburg sentence test. Questionnaires consist of the AQol-8D and the SSQ-12