Abstract
To verify the speech perception in subjects with ear malformation and unilateral hearing loss, fitted with two types of amplification as follows: conventional hearing aids and softband (band with vibrator bone). The study included fifteen subjects of both sexes who presented congenital malformation of the middle or outer ear, diagnosed with unilateral conductive or mixed hearing loss, moderate to severe hearing loss, age range between 15 to 25 years and, prescription from a specialist doctor for hearing device fitting. We performed the speech perception assessment without amplification after the hearing aid and softband fitting, with the hearing aid linked to the bone vibrator (conventional) and the softband (band with the bone vibrator). The subjects were evaluated using the Hearing in Noise Test (HINT), in silence and in noise. Seven subjects with unilateral ear malformation were evaluated, 57.1 % had impairment in the right ear and 42.9 % in the left ear. Regarding the type and the level of hearing loss, 71 % of all subjects included in the sample presented moderate conductive hearing loss. The assessment of speech perception was performed during silence, frontal noise, lateral noise and, during three specifics situations: no amplification, with conventional hearing aid and with the softband. The results with the amplification devices were positive in all evaluated conditions. Evaluated subjects presented improvement in speech perception, in silence, frontal noise and lateral noise situations, regardless of the type of amplification; however, the difference was not statistically significant.
Highlights
Ear malformations are anomalies that occur during the period of embryonic development and can affect the outer, middle and/or inner ear.[1]
We highlight the use of bone conduction amplification devices, the fitting of individual sound amplification devices and the performance of surgeries.[6]. Of these, solutions through definitive surgeries do not occur in the first months of life, and the use of conventional hearing aids is not applied in cases of external acoustic meatus agenesis or stenosis due to the impossibility of airway stimulation.[6]
Pre-selections were made for subjects with congenital malformations of the outer ear and/or middle ear with unilateral hearing loss without previous experience with the use of amplification, which were randomly allocated into two distinct groups, with a total of 15 individuals selected, according to the eligibility criteria: Inclusion criteria: - Congenital malformation of the outer ear and/or middle ear; - Both sexes; - Diagnosis of unilateral conductive or mixed hearing loss of moderate to severe levels; - Referral for amplification, performed by the ear, nose and throat specialist
Summary
Ear malformations are anomalies that occur during the period of embryonic development and can affect the outer, middle and/or inner ear.[1] Commonly, congenital anomalies of the ear affect the external ear and the external acoustic meatus, with unilateral or bilateral alterations. We highlight the use of bone conduction amplification devices, the fitting of individual sound amplification devices (hearing aids) and the performance of surgeries.[6] Of these, solutions through definitive surgeries do not occur in the first months of life, and the use of conventional hearing aids is not applied in cases of external acoustic meatus agenesis or stenosis due to the impossibility of airway stimulation.[6]. The use of bone conduction amplification devices aims to vibrate the cochlear structures without having to pass the acoustic stimulus through the structures of the outer and middle ears. The bone conductor is usually situated on one side in a band which uses elastic tension to press the bone conductor against the head.[2]
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