Patient-Reported Outcomes in Middle Ear and Active Transcutaneous Bone Conduction Hearing Implants

Area of Science:

• Audiology and Otolaryngology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Device Evaluation

Background:

• Hearing implants offer solutions for hearing loss.
• Patient satisfaction is a key outcome measure for medical devices.
• Understanding factors influencing satisfaction with hearing implants is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess patient-reported satisfaction with two hearing implant devices: Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) and Bonebridge (BB).
• To identify factors predicting perceived outcomes (good or poor).
• To pinpoint specific aspects of the devices associated with dissatisfaction.

Main Methods:

• A post-treatment questionnaire survey was administered to 39 adult patients with VSB or BB implants.
• The survey included the Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI) and Hearing Device Satisfaction Scale (HDSS) with at least 3 months follow-up.
• Satisfaction scores were correlated with pre- and post-operative audiologic outcomes and between GBI and HDSS scores.

Main Results:

• 28 of 39 patients (72%) responded, with 13 BB and 15 VSB recipients at a mean of 13 months post-implantation.
• Overall satisfaction was high, with 25 of 28 responders largely satisfied across most HDSS domains.
• Three dissatisfied patients were near the manufacturer's recommended implantation limits; two were non-users, one did not achieve expected benefit.

Conclusions:

• High patient satisfaction levels were demonstrated for both Vibrant Soundbridge and Bonebridge implantable hearing devices.
• Implant teams should exercise caution and manage patient expectations when patients are near the recommended limits for these devices.