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Updated: Jan 20, 2026
Conducting Miller-Urey Experiments
Published on: January 21, 2014
First Pediatric Experience With a Novel, Adhesive Adapter Retained, Bone Conduction Hearing Aid System
Max Sallis Osborne1, Anne Child-Hymas, Jaspreet Gill
1Birmingham Children's Hospital, Birmingham, UK.
Insights
A new adhesive bone conduction hearing aid significantly improved hearing thresholds in children with conductive hearing loss. This non-surgical option offers comparable results to existing aids and enhances quality of life.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Pediatric Otolaryngology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Conductive hearing loss in children often requires specialized hearing devices.
- Traditional bone conduction aids may involve surgical implantation or less effective softband solutions.
- Evaluating non-surgical, adhesive-retained bone conduction hearing aids is crucial for pediatric audiology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the audiological outcomes of a novel adhesive-retained bone conduction hearing aid in children.
- To assess the practical usability and impact on quality of life associated with this new hearing aid.
- To compare the efficacy of the adhesive aid against traditional softband bone conduction aids.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study involving 21 children (5-15 years) with conductive hearing loss.
- Audiological assessment included pure-tone thresholds (unaided, softband, and adhesive aid).
- Quality of life was measured using the Glasgow Children's Benefit Inventory and a linear analogue scale.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant improvement of 7.3 dB HL in hearing thresholds was observed with the adhesive aid compared to softband aids (p=0.0001).
- Mean hearing thresholds improved from 55 dB HL to 31 dB HL after 4 weeks of adhesive aid use.
- Improvements in quality of life were reported, with 86% experiencing enhanced self-confidence; four children had mild skin reactions.
Conclusions:
- The adhesive-retained bone conduction hearing aid demonstrates comparable audiological results to commercial softband aids.
- This non-surgical device offers an effective alternative for treating conductive hearing loss, avoiding surgical complications and costs.
- The adhesive aid preserves the mastoid skin, allowing for future reconstructive surgery if desired.
Objectives:
To assess the audiological outcomes, practicalities, and impact on quality of life of a new, nonimplantable, adhesive retained bone conduction hearing aid in children.
Study Design:
A prospective, single-subject repeat measure, cohort study.
Setting:
Community and in pediatric assessment center.
Patients:
Twenty-one children aged between 5 and 15 years with a conductive hearing loss of >/=25 dB HL in the better hearing ear.
Intervention:
Audiological comparisons were made using pure-tone thresholds; unaided, with a softband aid, and with the new adhesive retained bone conducting system.
Main Outcome Measures:
Comparison of hearing threshold levels. Data analysis via paired t-testing, significance set at p value <0.01. Quality of life was assessed via the Glasgow Children's Benefit Inventory and a 10 cm linear analogue scale. A hearing aid review questionnaire provided insight into practical use.
Results:
Statistically significant improvement in thresholds of 7.3 dB HL (p=0.0001) was demonstrated with the adhesive system as compared with softband aids. After 4 weeks of usage, the mean hearing thresholds for the adhesive hearing system improved from 55 dB HL ± 2.4 to 31 dB HL± 7.9 in unaided and aided conditions.Improvements in QOL were demonstrated with LAS and GCBI. Four children reported mild skin reactions. Eighty-six percent reported improved self-confidence.
Conclusion:
The adhesive aid produces comparable audiological results to the commercial softband hearing aids. It provides an excellent alternative in the treatment of conductive hearing loss without the possible complications and costs of a surgical intervention. Furthermore, it preserves skin envelope over the mastoid for those who wish to proceed with an autologous pinna reconstruction in the future.
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