Korkut Yağız, Batuk Isa Tuncay, Ozbal Batuk Merve, Sennaroğlu Levent
Department of Audiology, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
Department of Audiology, Ankara Medipol University, Turkey.
Am J Audiol. 2025 Sep 5:1-13. doi: 10.1044/2025_AJA-24-00146.
This study aimed to evaluate the impact of different hearing devices on sound localization and speech perception in individuals with single-sided deafness (SSD). Specifically, the study sought to assess the performance of softband bone-anchored hearing aids (BAHAs) and contralateral routing of signals hearing aids (CROS HA) in various conditions to determine their effectiveness in improving auditory outcomes for SSD patients.
Eighteen participants (aged between 20 and 50 years) with SSD underwent tests using softband BAHA, CROS HA, and unaided conditions in a counterbalanced design. Sound localization tests, speech perception in noise assessments, and subjective satisfaction ratings were conducted to measure the effectiveness of the hearing devices. The study employed a single-subject, repeated-measures experimental design to compare the performance of the different devices.
The results revealed that softband BAHA significantly improved sound localization, particularly in low-frequency stimulus localization, compared to CROS HA and unaided conditions ( = .03). Subjective satisfaction scores aligned with objective test outcomes, indicating a preference for softband BAHA. Speech perception in noise performance varied across conditions, with both hearing devices showing benefits in certain scenarios.
The findings of this study have important clinical implications for selecting appropriate hearing device options for SSD patients. Softband BAHA demonstrated superior performance in sound localization tasks, as evidenced by the significant improvement observed in the Azimuth Localization Test results. This test measures a central auditory skill-sound localization-by evaluating participants' ability to accurately identify the direction of sound sources. The enhanced performance with softband BAHA in this task suggests that the BAHA device provides the brain with more robust cues for localization when compared with the CROS device. Using suitable hearing devices during rehabilitation for SSD patients is crucial for enhancing auditory outcomes and quality of life in this population. Further research is warranted to address the limitations identified and optimize rehabilitation strategies for individuals with SSD.
本研究旨在评估不同听力设备对单侧耳聋（SSD）个体声音定位和言语感知的影响。具体而言，该研究试图评估软带骨锚式助听器（BAHA）和对侧信号路由助听器（CROS HA）在各种条件下的性能，以确定它们在改善SSD患者听觉效果方面的有效性。
18名年龄在20至50岁之间的SSD参与者采用平衡设计，在使用软带BAHA、CROS HA和未佩戴助听器的条件下接受测试。进行了声音定位测试、噪声环境下的言语感知评估和主观满意度评分，以衡量听力设备的有效性。该研究采用单受试者重复测量实验设计来比较不同设备的性能。
结果显示，与CROS HA和未佩戴助听器的条件相比，软带BAHA显著改善了声音定位，尤其是在低频刺激定位方面（P = 0.03）。主观满意度得分与客观测试结果一致，表明对软带BAHA更偏好。噪声环境下的言语感知性能因条件而异，两种听力设备在某些情况下都显示出益处。
本研究结果对于为SSD患者选择合适的听力设备选项具有重要的临床意义。软带BAHA在声音定位任务中表现出卓越性能，方位定位测试结果的显著改善证明了这一点。该测试通过评估参与者准确识别声源方向的能力来测量一项核心听觉技能——声音定位。与CROS设备相比，软带BAHA在这项任务中的性能提升表明，BAHA设备为大脑提供了更强有力的定位线索。在SSD患者康复过程中使用合适的听力设备对于提高该人群的听觉效果和生活质量至关重要。有必要进一步开展研究以解决已发现的局限性，并优化SSD个体的康复策略。
