Baha implant as a hearing solution for single-sided deafness after retrosigmoid approach for the vestibular schwannoma: audiological results

Abstract

Skull base tumors and, in particular, vestibular schwannoma (VS) are among the etiological reasons for single-sided deafness (SSD). Patients with SSD have problems in understanding speech in a noisy environment and cannot localize the direction of sounds. For the majority, this is the handicap for which they try to find a solution. Apart from CROS hearing aids, Baha is one of the most frequently used systems for SSD compensation. 38 patients with single-sided deafness after retrosigmoid removal of a vestibular schwannoma underwent testing with a Baha softband from September 2010 to August 2014. Sixteen patients (42 %) finally decided to accept Baha implantation. Subjective experience with the Baha softband was evaluated by patients using the BBSS questionnaire immediately after testing. Objective evaluation of the effect was performed as a measurement of the sentence discrimination score in noise and side horizontal discrimination without a Baha and 6 weeks and 12 months after a sound processor fitting. There was a significant improvement in sentence discrimination in the 6 week (64.0 %) and 1 year (74.6 %) interval of follow-up in comparison with understanding without Baha (24.0 %, p = 0.001) in situations when sentences are coming from the side of the non-hearing ear and noise contralaterally with SNR -5 dB. Baha can significantly improve sentence discrimination in complex-listening situation in patients with SSD after the VS surgery.

Keywords: Baha; Hearing in noise test; Retroauricular approach; Single-sided deafness; Vestibular schwannoma.