Background: There is a dearth of information on the effects of bone conductive devices on temporal processing in individuals with single-sided deafness (SSD). This study investigates the effect of an adhesive bone conductive device on temporal processing in adults with SSD.
Methods: A prospective cohort study of temporal processing in adults with SSD was undertaken. Outcome measures were the pitch pattern test (PPT) and the duration pattern test (DPT) scores, sound field pure tone audiometric (PTA) averaged hearing thresholds, and word recognition scores (WRS). These were measured under 3 conditions: unaided in quiet, unaided in noise, and aided in noise. Eight SSD novice hearing amplification users were recruited.
Results: The adhesive bone conduction device (BCD) resulted in a statistically-significant improvement (Wilcoxon signed ranks test, P = .018) in median [interquartile range (IQR)] PPT score, 65% (IQR = 35.5), and DPT score, 38% (IQR = 42.5) in noise.
Conclusions: Adults with SSD demonstrated improved temporal processing scores with masking of the normal-hearing ear when using an adhesive BCD placed behind the deafened ear.
Keywords: aids; bone conduction; hearing; temporal processing.