Horizontal sound localisation accuracy in individuals with conductive hearing loss: effect of the bone conduction implant.

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Horizontal sound localisation accuracy in individuals with conductive hearing loss: effect of the bone conduction implant.

Int J Audiol. 2018 May 15;:1-8

Authors: Asp F, Reinfeldt S

Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to quantify the effect of the Bone Conduction Implant (BCI) on sound localisation accuracy in subjects with conductive hearing loss (CHL).
DESIGN: The subjects were tested in a horizontal sound localisation task in which localisation responses were objectively obtained by eye-tracking, in a prospective, cross-sectional design. The tests were performed unaided and unilaterally aided. The stimulus used had a spectrum similar to female speech and was presented at 63 and 73 dB SPL. The main outcome measure was the error index (EI), ranging from 0 to 1 (perfect to random performance).
STUDY SAMPLE: Eleven subjects (aged 21-75 years, five females) with BCI participated in the study. Their mixed/conductive hearing loss was either unilateral (n = 5) or bilateral (n = 6).
RESULTS: Three of five subjects (60%) with unilateral CHL, and four of six subjects (67%) with bilateral CHL showed significantly improved sound localisation when using a unilateral BCI (p < .05). For the subjects with bilateral CHL, a distinct linear relation between aided sound localisation and hearing thresholds in the non-implant ear existed at 73 dB SPL (18% decrease in the EI per 10 dB decrease in pure-tone average, r = 0.98, p < .001).
CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with mixed/conductive hearing loss may benefit from a unilateral BCI in sound localisation.

PMID: 29764239 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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