Sound Localization in Active Transcutaneous Bone Conduction Implant Users with Single-Sided Deafness

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Single-sided deafness (SSD) significantly impacts spatial hearing and sound localization.
• Active transcutaneous bone conduction implants (atBCIs) are a potential solution for hearing restoration in SSD.
• Understanding the efficacy of atBCIs for sound localization in SSD is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the sound localization accuracy in individuals with SSD using atBCIs.
• To compare the performance of SSD patients with atBCIs to a control group.
• To assess the subjective benefit of atBCIs on spatial hearing.

Main Methods:

• A prospective case-control study was conducted at a tertiary referral center.
• Ten SSD patients with atBCIs and 10 controls participated.
• Sound localization was assessed using a 24-speaker array in a semianechoic chamber with broadband and narrowband noise stimuli.

Main Results:

• SSD patients demonstrated significantly worse sound localization compared to controls for broadband and low-frequency narrowband noise.
• No significant difference in localization was observed between aided and unaided conditions for SSD patients.
• Localization ability varied within the SSD cohort, with some showing improvement at high frequencies with the device.

Conclusions:

• Sound localization in SSD patients with atBCIs exhibits a bimodal distribution.
• Some individuals experience preserved but not improved localization, especially at high frequencies, with atBCIs.
• Others show minimal localization ability and no significant benefit from the device.