RP405 - Navigating Change: Parental Perspectives on Children's Transition to Surgical Bone Conduction Devices

Abstract:
This study investigates transition from non-surgical bone conduction devices to surgical implants in pediatric patients, addressing the audiological benefits, device usage and parental satisfaction involved. Conducted across seven clinics, we recruited 50 children (mean age 7.4 years) with various types of hearing. Pre-operative audiological assessments using a softband device were compared to results from surgically implanted devices at 3, 6, and 12 months post-activation. Preliminary findings indicate high parental satisfaction (mean score 9.2) with the device post-implantation and promising audiological improvements, emphasizing the need for further analysis to guide clinical practices and support families in their decision-making regarding auditory solutions.

Summary:
Children using bone conduction technology undergo a unique transition from non-surgical devices to implanted solutions. Parents must navigate challenging decisions regarding surgery, considering their child's age, developmental stage, and specific hearing needs. Concerns about timing and the balance between potential auditory benefits and future uncertainties add to the complexity. Despite the significance of this transition, there is a notable gap in literature regarding the specific audiological benefits children experience, such as improvements in audiological gains and speech perception. While softband devices provide access to sound, they often have limitations that affect usage and wear time. However, empirical evidence detailing the exact advantages of this transition in the pediatric population, such as improvements in audiological gains and speech perception, remains sparse. This gap is crucial to address, as understanding these benefits can inform clinical practices and guide decision-making for families and clinicians. Furthermore, parental satisfaction plays a vital role in this decision-making process. Parents are often the key stakeholders in choosing the best auditory solutions for their children, weighing not only clinical outcomes but also their children's comfort and quality of life. Our research aims to explore both the audiological improvements that accompany the transition to surgical systems and the level of parental satisfaction with these choices. By examining these aspects, we hope to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of this transition, ultimately helping families make informed decisions that support their children's auditory needs. The study is part of a larger multi-center investigation across seven U.S. clinics, recruiting pediatric patients for bone conduction implant surgery. Subjects were seen by audiology preoperatively, initial activation appointment, then at 3, 6, and 12 months post-activation follow-up. Pre-operatively aided testing was done via a softband using a Baha 5 Power device, and the same measurements were repeated using the surgically implanted device at 3, 6 and 12 months follow-up. These measurements include: speech recognition testing in quiet and in noise, as well as soundfield thresholds. Parents completed a post-surgery device use questionnaire, rating their satisfaction on a 0–10 scale (0 = very dissatisfied, 10 = very satisfied) across several questions. They also compared their child’s hearing ability and experience with the bone conduction device to their pre -surgical experience, providing insights into parental satisfaction. A total of 50 children were recruited (mean age 7.4 years, SD±2.0; 46% female, 54% male). Most had conductive hearing loss (n=35), followed by single-sided deafness (n=13), and mixed hearing loss (n=2). Initial analyses of the parental responses (n=48) from the device use questionnaire showed that they rated overall hearing performance postsurgery as highly satisfactory, with a mean score of 9.2 (SD±0.8). Preliminary analyses indicate promising outcomes, with more in-depth analysis to follow. These findings may identify areas for improvement and serve as educational tools for clinicians and families. The improved audiological findings and high satisfaction levels reported by parents highlight the potential of surgical bone conduction devices to enhance children's auditory experiences, though further data will offer clearer insights.

Brief Summary of Clinical Takeaways:
Clinicians should note the high parental satisfaction (mean score 9.2) and promising audiological outcomes observed in pediatric patients transitioning from non-surgical bone conduction devices to surgical implants. These findings underscore the importance of thorough pre-operative assessments and ongoing support for families in their decision-making process regarding auditory solutions.