Speech Understanding and Sound Localization with a New Nonimplantable Wearing Option for Baha

Objective. To measure the audiological benefit of the Baha SoundArc, a recently introduced nonimplantable wearing option for bone conduction sound processor, and to compare it with the known softband wearing option in subjects with normal cochlear function and a purely conductive bilateral hearing loss. Methods. Both ears of 15 normal hearing subjects were occluded for the time of the measurement, yielding an average unaided threshold of 49 dB HL (0.5 – 4 kHz). Soundfield thresholds, speech understanding in quiet and in noise, and sound localization were measured in unaided conditions and with 1 or 2 Baha 5 sound processors mounted on either a softband or a SoundArc device. Results. Soundfield thresholds and speech reception thresholds were improved by 19.5 to 24.8 dB (p<.001 when compared to the unaided condition. speech reception thresholds in noise were improved by db using sound processors rather than one understanding for from direction of device and localization error no statistically significant difference was found between soundarc softband wearing options any tests. conclusions. bone conduction processor mounted on a or resulted considerable improvements hearing subjects with simulated purely conductive bilateral loss. found. improves certain spatial settings.>

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