Comparison of two different bone anchored hearing instruments: Baha-5 vs Ponto-plus

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Otolaryngology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Limited comparative studies exist for Ponto Plus and Baha 5 bone-anchored hearing instruments.
• Understanding the comparative performance and safety of these devices is crucial for clinical decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the speech understanding performance of the Baha 5 and Ponto Plus devices in quiet and noisy environments.
• To evaluate and statistically compare skin reactions associated with the abutment systems of both devices.

Main Methods:

• Twenty users of bone-anchored hearing instruments were enrolled, with ten using each device.
• Speech understanding was assessed using the Turkish Matrix Test in a two-speaker setup across various signal-to-noise ratios.
• Skin reactions were classified using Holger classifications.

Main Results:

• Both the Baha 5 and Ponto Plus devices demonstrated similar hearing outcomes.
• No statistically significant difference was observed in skin reactions between the two implant systems.

Conclusions:

• The comparable hearing results and skin reaction profiles suggest that other device characteristics may be more influential in patient choice.
• Factors such as size, weight, color options, and ease of use are likely important considerations for patients selecting a bone-anchored hearing device.