Bone conduction hearing devices are widely used and indicated in cases of conductive, mixed or single-sided deafness where the conventional hearing aids are not indicated or tolerated. This prospective study aims to investigate the surgical and hearing outcomes of a novel active piezoelectric transcutaneous bone conduction device (t-BCD). Prospective data were collected from the first 10 patients who underwent implantation with the t-BCD Osia (Cochlear, Australia) (between Dec 2018 and March 2019) in a tertiary referral centre. The main outcome measures include: surgical outcome, free field speech testing with speech recognition thresholds, audiological gain and patient-reported outcomes including the ‘Glasgow Benefit Inventory’ (GBI) and the ‘Client Oriented Scale of Improvement (COSI). The mean length of surgery was 70.6 min (range 50–87, SD = 9.5). Mean skin thickness measured was 5.6 mm (range 4–8, SD = 1.1). There were two post-operative wound infections which settled conservatively. One required revision surgery to thin skin. The average gain in hearing with the implant was + 39.4 dB. Pre-implantation mean unaided SRT was 38.1 dB (SD = 7.8) and the post-implantation mean-aided SRT was 22.7 dB (SD = 4.6) (p = 0.000078). There was improvement in COSI domains. The mean Glasgow disability score dropped from 52% pre-implantation to 20% post-implantation (p = 0.001). This new active t-BCHD provides excellent audiological gain and improvement in speech recognition. Patient-reported outcomes have also been very positive. The surgery was straightforward with no major surgical complications reported. Further studies will be required to examine long-term outcomes in larger number of patients.

OBJECTIVE:To assess outcomes with a novel passive transcutaneous bone conduction device (t-BCD).STUDY DESIGN:Prospective data collection and patient review.SETTING:Tertiary referral center.PATIENTS:Patients who underwent implantation with the t-BCD between November 2013 and September 2016.INTERVENTION:Implantation of BAHA Attract.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Surgical outcome, patient reported outcomes including the "Glasgow Benefit Inventory" and the "Client Oriented Scale of Improvement" for adults and the "Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing scale" (SSQ-12) for children.RESULTS:One hundred five patients were implanted. Numbness superior to the incision was commonly noticed. Four patients (3.8%) developed skin tenderness and redness that settled with conservative measures. Among those patients who had a conversion from a percutaneous Bone Conduction Hearing Device (BCHD) to the t-BCD (n=15), 1 (0.9%) developed seroma and 2 (1.9%) developed skin dehiscence at the edge of the implant magnet. Significant improvement in Client Oriented Scale of Improvement and Glasgow Benefit Inventory scores with a global satisfaction of 84% and 77.4% was observed for those previously aided and unaided respectively, with use of the device. A 22% improvement in SSQ-12 mean score was observed in the pediatric population.CONCLUSION:This is the largest single-center series reported on this t-BCD. The complication rate is small but caution is required in patients of conversion from a percutaneous BCHD. The patients' satisfaction is high and the need for aftercare is minimal. Cost-effectiveness evaluation of these devices, development of core outcome sets and well-designed, prospective trials to compare the different BCHDs should be the focus of future research.

Objective To assess outcomes with a new transcutaneous bone conduction hearing aid.Patients Patients that underwent implantation with the transcutaneous bone conduction device between November 2013 and May 2014.Intervention Hearing rehabilitation using the BAHA Attract.Main Outcome Measures Quality of life measures using Glasgow benefit inventory (GBI) and clinically oriented scale of improvement (COSI). Audiological outcome using word discrimination score.Results Ten patients were implanted. Significant improvement in GBI and COSI scores comparing preimplantation and postimplantation. An increase in word discrimination scores at 30 dBA, with an increase from 0% unaided to a mean of 50% with the magnetic transcutaneous bone conduction aid and at 50 dBA with an increase from a mean of 31.7% to 88.3%. However, the word discrimination score increase at 30, 50, and 60 dBA was not statistically significant (p = 0.25; Wilcoxon).Conclusion There was a high level of satisfaction with the device with significant increases in GBI and COSI scores in patients who were previously aided with an acoustic aid. The absence of daily skin hygiene appealed to patients.