Improvement of speech comprehension with the new transcutaneous partially implantable bone conduction hearing system Osia

Introduction The new active and partially implantable transcutaneous osseointegrated system Osia from Cochlear can be indicated in case of conductive or mixed hearing loss or in patients with unilateral deafness. A maximal hearing loss of 55 dB HL in PTA4 of bone conduction threshold can be tolerated. The implant directly stimulates the bone via a piezoelectric transducer and is directed by an external sound processor.

Methods Data of ten Osia patients were retrospectively analysed, of which two received bilateral implants. The patients (five female and five male) were implanted between 09/2018 and 10/2019 and were on average 49.2 years old. Most of the patients hat a combined hearing loss, two of them were unilaterally deaf. Speech comprehension was analysed using the Freiburg monosyllabic test in quiet in the open field before surgery and at approximately 6 weeks postoperative. At time of data collection six of the patients had their implant for more than one year.

Results Comparing PTA4 of air conduction, Osia implantation did not lead to a change in hearing threshold. One patient had to be explanted because of prolonged wound infection. Postoperatively all patients had a strong benefit through Osia implantation: speech recognition in quiet was improved on group average by 65,71% correct compared to the unaided situation before surgery.

Conclusions In patients with mixed hearing loss, Osia implantation leads to a strongly enhanced speech comprehension compared to the unaided situation.

Poster-PDF A-1464.PDF

Publication History

Article published online:
10 June 2020