The Subjective Outcome of Auditory Brainstem Implantation

• Main Authors: McSorley, A., Lloyd, S., Freeman, S., Ramsden, R., Motion, J., Mawman, D., O'Driscoll, M.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2193-6331; 2193-634X
• DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1314161

Aim: To assess the subjective benefits of auditory brainstem implants (ABI) and investigate the extent to which patients perceive the ABI to be a useful device. Design: Questionnaire study. Patients and Methods: Thirty-one eligible patients using the device were sent the ABI performance questionnaire as used by Nevison et al. Data were collected on the following areas: daily duration of use, auditory fatigue, differentiation between speech and environment, differentiation between speech qualities, and subjective assessment of ABI. Patients were asked to rate the usefulness of the device in various settings on a scale of 1 (not useful) to 6 (very useful). Results: Twenty-three completed questionnaires were returned; of these, one form completed on a patient's behalf was excluded. Mean duration of usage per day was 12.62 hours (range, 8–16 hours). Seventy-one percent of patients turned the processor off at one or more points during the day. Differentiation between speech and environment was achieved in 95%, and 70% were able to differentiate between speech qualities. The ABI was perceived as most beneficial when speaking to a familiar voice in a quiet place, with 15% of patients rating it as very useful or better. When used in conjunction with lip-reading, this figure rose to 60%. Conclusions: Overall, the ABI enables differentiation between speech and environmental sounds as well as male, female, adult, and child voices. Patients found the ABI to be most useful when used in conjunction with lipreading, with those who received lipreading training reporting the greatest subjective benefit.