Bilateral bone conduction devices: improved hearing ability in children with bilateral conductive hearing loss.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to investigate whether children with bilateral conductive hearing loss benefit from their second device (i.e., the bilateral bone conduction device [BCD]).

DESIGN

Speech recognition in noise was assessed in 10 children fitted with bilateral BCDs during childhood. Speech recognition was measured in 2 conditions with both BCDs active. Spatial resolution was tested with the Minimum Audible Angle test in the bilateral and monaural listening conditions.

RESULTS

Children demonstrated an improvement in speech recognition when speech was presented from the front and noise was presented from the right-hand side as compared with both speech and noise being presented from the front. The minimum audible angle decreased from 57° in the best monaural condition to 13° in the bilateral condition.

CONCLUSIONS

The audiological outcomes demonstrate the advantage of bilateral BCD fitting in children with bilateral conductive hearing loss.