Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 23, 2026
Sound Source Localization Testing in Single-sided Deafness Following Bone Conduction Intervention
Published on: December 20, 2024
A novel intraoral bone conduction hearing prosthesis: one-year safety and efficacy study
Richard K Gurgel1, Stuart H Curtis, Clough Shelton
1Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A.
Objective:
To assess the safety and efficacy of an intraoral bone conduction (IOBC) hearing prosthesis after 12 months of use.
Study Design:
Prospective cohort study.
Setting:
Multisite study including private practice, hospital-based practice, tertiary care, and academic medical centers.
Patients:
Patients aged 18 years or older with single-sided deafness (SSD).
Main Outcome Measure(S):
At the end of 6 months and 12 months, patients were asked to complete the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB) questionnaire and SSD questionnaire in addition to audiometric testing.
Results:
Eighty-one patients completed the study. Hearing thresholds remained the same throughout the study. APHAB results showed a significant benefit (p < 0.001) in categories of ease of communication, reverberation, background noise, and global score. The SSD questionnaire showed a high satisfaction among participants, with 93.8% of patients likely to recommend the IOBC. Dissatisfaction was highest with regard to patient's ability to eat with device, with only 55.6% satisfied. No serious adverse events were reported during the study.
Conclusion:
The IOBC is a safe and effective alternative to percutaneous osseointegrated hearing implants for patients with SSD. Patient satisfaction and improved hearing benefit are observed after 1 year of using the device. The IOBC significantly benefitted patients in APHAB categories of ease of communication, reverberation, background noise, and the overall global hearing score. The in-the-mouth transducer is the least-liked feature for some patients, particularly with regard to eating; however, the majority of patients are willing to deal with the size of the device for the hearing benefit gained.
