A Comparison Between Wireless CROS and Bone-anchored Hearing Devices for Single-sided Deafness: A Pilot Study

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Hearing Technology
• Neurosurgery

Background:

• Single-sided deafness (SSD) presents unique audiological challenges.
• Bone-anchored hearing devices (BAHD) and Contralateral Routing of Signals (CROS) hearing aids are used to manage SSD.
• Technological advancements necessitate updated comparisons of these devices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of wireless CROS hearing aids and BAHD in patients with SSD.
• To evaluate head shadow effect reduction and speech perception.
• To assess patient-reported outcomes and device comfort.

Main Methods:

• Eight adults with SSD, previously implanted with BAHD, underwent a 2-week trial with a wireless CROS hearing aid.
• Testing included unaided and aided conditions, measuring head shadow effect, speech perception in quiet and noise, and patient questionnaires.
• Daily diaries tracked device usage and subjective experiences.

Main Results:

• Both CROS and BAHD significantly reduced the head shadow effect.
• Speech perception in noise was better when noise was presented to the poorer ear for both unaided and aided conditions.
• No significant differences were found between CROS and BAHD in most speech perception tests and subjective ratings; however, CROS performed poorer than unaided when noise was in the poorer ear.
• Comfort and sound quality preferences varied, with four preferring CROS for sound and three preferring BAHD for comfort.

Conclusions:

• Wireless CROS hearing aids and BAHD demonstrate comparable outcomes for SSD management.
• CROS devices offer an alternative to surgery, mitigating surgical risks.
• The study recommends trialing CROS hearing aids as a first-line treatment for SSD.