Performance with a new bone conduction implant audio processor in patients with single-sided deafness

Area of Science:

• Audiology and Hearing Science
• Biomedical Engineering
• Neurosurgery

Background:

• The BONEBRIDGE bone conduction implant utilizes the SAMBA BB audio processor (AP1).
• Advancements in audio processing aim to enhance speech perception in challenging listening environments.
• Automatic listening environment detection is a key feature for improved audiological outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the audiological benefit of the new SAMBA 2 BB audio processor (AP2) for the BONEBRIDGE implant.
• To compare the performance of AP2 against its predecessor, SAMBA BB (AP1).
• To assess the impact of automatic listening environment detection on speech understanding.

Main Methods:

• Prospective within-subject comparison study involving seven users with single-sided sensorineural deafness (SSD).
• Comparison of aided sound field hearing thresholds, speech understanding in quiet (Freiburg monosyllables), and speech understanding in noise (Oldenburg sentence test) between AP1 and AP2.
• Evaluation included two complex noise scenarios (S0NMIX, SIPSINMIX) and subjective assessments using SSQ12, APSQ, and BBSS questionnaires.

Main Results:

• Significant improvement in speech understanding in quiet with AP2 (+17%, p=0.007) compared to AP1.
• AP2 demonstrated improved speech reception thresholds by 1.2 dB (S0NMIX, p=0.032) and 2.1 dB (SIPSINMIX, p=0.048) in noise.
• Subjective evaluations showed no significant differences, except for an improved APSQ usability score with AP2.

Conclusions:

• The SAMBA 2 BB audio processor offers significant audiological benefits for patients with SSD.
• Clinicians can expect improved speech understanding in both quiet and complex noise scenarios with AP2 compared to AP1.
• The new processor enhances the effectiveness of the BONEBRIDGE bone conduction implant.