Evaluation of the Auditory Performance in Noise of Bone-Anchored Hearing System in Patients With Single Side Sensorineural Deafness.

ImportanceSingle sided deafness (SSD) results in difficulties for comprehension in noise and spatial localization. Ponto is a percutaneous bone anchored implant (BAI) proposed to improve the auditory benefit in noise.ObjectiveThe main objective was to evaluate the auditory benefit in noise Ponto system brings to patients suffering from SSD. In addition, the complications within the 6 months after Ponto implantation whatever the initial indication were evaluated.DesignRetrospective and multicentric study.SettingThree different French tertiary referral centers.ParticipantsPatients who underwent surgery between 2012 and July 2021 with a Ponto BAI.InterventionAll patients with SSD underwent the speech in noise test, "Vocale Rapide dans le bruit" (VRB) in a condition with the sound signal from the front and the noise from 4 lateral loudspeakers. The test was performed in 2 conditions: aided and unaided. The Bern Benefit in Single-Sided Deafness (BBSS) Questionnaire and a subjective Spatial-Visual Analogic Scale (S-VAS) evaluated the patients' perception of benefits.Main Outcome MeasuresVRB Speech Reception Threshold score, BBSS and S-VAS scores, complications within 6 months after surgery mostly skin complications, chronic pain, and loss of the BAI.ResultsUsing the VRB, a gain of -1.55 dB signal-to-noise-ratio was found with the Ponto system. Moreover, the unaided VRB score was correlated with the unaided/aided difference and by that predicative of BAI treatment benefit. The BBSS showed mean scores between 1.45 and 3.47 for each question and the S-VAS mean score was 3.32. These results confirm a subjective benefit brought to patients especially as 74.3% were without cutaneous complications.ConclusionThe Ponto BAI is a reliable implant and together with a Ponto sound processor it provides good auditory in noise results.RelevanceThe VRB is a useful test for predicting the post-operative results that could be expected after surgery.