Outcomes of the Baha Attract System combined with auricle reconstruction in mandarin speaking patients with bilateral microtia-atresia

Abstract

Background: A transcutaneous bone-conduction hearing device (tBCHD), the Baha Attract System has been recently introduced to China, and very few studies have assessed the efficacy of this system in speakers of mandarin.

Objectives: This study aims to analyze the functional and cosmetic outcomes of this system.

Materials and Methods: This prospective study included 11 patients (nine males, two females), of mean age 16 years (range 9–32 years). Seven patients were conducted the implantation simultaneously with auricle reconstruction, and the other four were before it. Auditory results were compared between unaided patients and implanted patients. Subjective satisfaction was analyzed using three questionnaires.

Results: The mean sound field thresholds were 65.9 ± 5.1 dB SPL unaided and 30.9 ± 4.7 dB SPL with an implanted Baha Attract System, resulting in a mean hearing gain of 35.0 ± 6.7 dB. The mean WRS scores were 47.8 ± 8.7% unaided and 92.1 ± 2.0% with the Baha Attract System, resulting in a mean improvement of 47.8 ± 8.7%. No adverse events were reported and questionnaires showed good patients satisfaction.

Conclusions: The transcutaneous Baha Attract System is effective in mandarin speaking patients, and the combination of hearing rehabilitation and auricle reconstruction surgery is promising for patients with bilateral microtia-atresia.

Chinese abstract

背景：中国最近引进一种经皮骨导助听器（TBCHD）, 即巴哈吸引系统（Baha-Attract System）。很少有研究评估该系统对普通话使用者的效果。

目的：本研究旨在分析该系统的功能和外观效果。

材料和方法：这项前瞻性研究包括11名患者（9名男性, 2名女性）, 平均年龄16岁（范围9-32岁）。7例患者在植入的同时行耳廓重建术, 4例患者在耳廓重建术之前进行植入。比较了未植入和植入患者之间的听力结果。使用三份问卷对主观满意度进行分析。

结果：未植入时平均声场阈值为65.9 5.1分贝声压级。植入巴哈吸引系统后, 平均声场阈值为30.9 ± 4.7分贝声压级。平均听力增益为35.0 ± 6.7分贝。巴哈吸引系统的 未植入时平均WRS评分为47.8 ± 8.7%, 植入巴哈吸引系统后, WRS评分为92.1 ± 2.0%, 平均改善47.8 ± 8.7%。无不良事件报告, 问卷调查显示患者满意度良好。

结论：经皮巴哈吸引系统对普通话患者有效。听力康复与耳廓重建手术相结合给双侧小耳畸形患者带来希望。

Keywords:

• Congenital microtia
• bone conduction
• hearing rehabilitation
• Baha Attract System
• transcutaneous
• auricle reconstruction

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by grant to Xiaowei Chen from the General Programs of National Natural Science Foundation of China [81271053] and The National Key Research and Development Program of China [2016YFC0901501].