Application of an implantable bone conduction hearing device to patients with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss.

Abstract

This investigation, comprised of five studies, was undertaken to determine if individuals with newly acquired profound unilateral hearing losses would benefit from an implantable bone-conduction hearing device. The bone conductor was implanted on the side of the deaf ear at the time of translabyrinthine acoustic tumor resection. Two areas greatly affected by unilateral hearing loss, speech recognition in noise and sound localization, were examined. No improvement in aided performance could be documented in either area.