Objective
To determine factors predicting whether patients with single-sided deafness (SSD) opt for a bone conduction device (BCD) for the contralateral routing of sound (CROS) after a regular trial with a BCD on a headband.
Design
Retrospective case-control study.
Setting
Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Patients
Thirty consecutive patients with SSD.
Interventions
Patients received a trial with a BCD headband as part of the regular workup for SSD. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to their decision to opt for a BCD (BCD+) or not (BCD−).
Main Outcome Measures
Patients completed a questionnaire on satisfaction with the BCD headband, patient- and BCD-related factors, and benefit in listening situations.
Results
Fourteen patients (47%) chose a percutaneous BCD application after the BCD headband trial. Hearing loss of the contralateral ear at 4.0 kHz was significantly larger in the BCD+ group for bone and air conduction (P = .05 and P = .02, respectively). Patients in the BCD+ group experienced more problems in several listening situations and used the BCD headband more frequently than patients did in the BCD− group.
Conclusions
Several individual factors influence the decision of patients with SSD to opt for a BCD. Hearing loss in the contralateral ear at high frequencies seems to be a relevant factor to predict the success of the BCD headband trial. It is advisable to offer all patients with SSD the option to participate in the BCD headband trial for at least 1 week and create a realistic expectation for patients based on their unaided subjective hearing handicaps.