First Pediatric Experience With a Novel, Adhesive Adapter Retained, Bone Conduction Hearing Aid System

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.