Background: In 2016, the Baha 5 SuperPower was introduced. This Bone Conduction Device (BCD) provides a higher maximum force output (80-85dB) and broader fitting range (65 dB sensorineural hearing loss) than any other BCD currently available. Therefore, it is particularly suitable for patients with severe-to-profound (mixed) hearing losses and not yet ready for a Cochlear Implant.

Objectives: To evaluate the Cochlear Baha 5 SuperPower (5SP) and its users.

Methods: All 82 adult patients with severe-to-profound hearing loss fitted with the Cochlear Baha 5SP as a percutaneous bone-anchored hearing system in our center between 2016 and 2019 were identified and included in this study for a general description. Patients with incomplete data or criteria known to influence the reliability of audiological tests (n=24) were excluded from the complete audiological analysis, resulting in 58 completely analyzed patients. Main outcome measures: Unaided and aided pure-tone thresholds and aided free-field speech perception in quiet.

Results: The median unaided air conduction (AC) PTA0.5-2kHz of the completely analyzed group was 75 dB; the median unaided AC PTA1-4kHz was 84 dB. For bone conduction and direct bone conduction (dBC), the median PTA0.5-2kHz was 52 and 47 dB, respectively. Based on the median dBC PTA0.5-2kHz, one patient fell outside the 65 dB sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) fitting range. When fitted with the superpower device, the median free-field speech reception threshold (SRT) shift was 34 dB, and the median speech perception score at 65 dB SPL was 80%.

Conclusion: At least 25% of the studied patients has a cochlear implant indication based on (<70%) speech perception. Although this SNHL-severity, the superpower device provides them with a substantial benefit in hearing. Preferably, the device should be fitted body-worn to work optimally without too many feedback problems.

Evaluation of a Super Powerful Bone-Anchored Hearing System and its users: A Retrospective Study

It is with great pleasure and enthusiasm, that on behalf of the Cochlear Implant centers of the Radboud UMC in Nijmegen and Erasmus MC Sophia Children’s Hospital in Rotterdam to invite you to attend the 16th European Symposium on Pediatric Cochlear Implantation to Rotterdam, the Netherlands in 2023.

Yours sincerely, on behalf of the CI Centers at Radboud UMC and Erasmus MC,