Sound localisation ability using cartilage conduction hearing aids in bilateral aural atresia

Abstract

Objective Patients with bilateral aural atresia often exhibit poor sound localisation due to bone conduction (BC) features. However, most patients using cartilage conduction (CC) hearing aids reported improvement of sound localisation. Design CC hearing aids were fitted binaurally. Subsequently, sound localisation was evaluated in three conditions: unaided, aided with previously used hearing aids (air conduction or BC hearing aids), and aided with CC hearing aids. Ears were evaluated with eight loudspeakers positioned in a full-circle at 45-degree interval. Loudspeakers were classified into left and right by midline and front and back by horizontal line. The abilities to distinguish left from right and front from back were compared among three conditions. Study sample Thirteen patients with bilateral aural atresia participated. Results The ability to distinguish sounds originating from left or right for participants aided with CC hearing aids was significantly better than that for other conditions (p < 0.05). For distinguishing sounds originating from front or back, unaided ears were significantly better than ears aided with CC hearing aids (p < 0.05). Conclusions CC hearing aids provide the ability to distinguish left from right in patients with bilateral aural atresia.