Digital hearing aids for high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss: preliminary experience with the RetroX device

The RetroX outer ear hearing aid seems to represent a means of overcoming problems with understanding speech in noise in patients with high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) without the need to wear conventional completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aids, which are usually reported to annoy patients as a result of the occlusion effect.

To present preliminary data from a study carried out to compare the efficacy, in the same individual, of a standard digital CIC hearing aid and a new implantable outer ear canal device, the RetroX.

Three out of 15 adults affected by high-frequency SNHL who were candidates for auditory rehabilitation were evaluated by using speech audiometric tests in quiet and noise as well as a questionnaire shortly after use of a CIC hearing aid and the RetroX device, i.e. at 7 and 14 days. The efficacy of the RetroX was anticipated by testing all the subjects using a RetroX simulating system before starting the study protocol.

In all three implanted patients, the RetroX provided better audiological benefit for speech understanding in noise. These findings were corroborated by the results of the questionnaire, which showed greater satisfaction with the RetroX, especially regarding the absence of the occlusion effect.