Hearing rehabilitation with Baha Attract in patients with single-sided deafness after vestibular schwannoma removal

Abstract

Background : Single-sided deafness (SSD) is defined as a unilateral sensorineural deafness in the poorer ear, and vestibular schwannoma itself, or treatment of it can cause patients SSD. So there were many treatments for SSD, such as hearing aids, bone-anchored hearing devices, but which had many disadvantages. Now newly developed system, Baha Attract have some advantages. Methods : As a case series study, retrospective chart review was conducted for 4 patients who had undergone Baha Attract implantation after removal of vestibular schwannoma for rehabilitation of SSD by one senior surgeon (M.I.S.) at a single tertiary hospital in 2021. We analyzed the clinical features, radiologic findings (computed tomography [CT], magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]), hearing tests (pure tone audiogram), and surgical outcomes of the patients. Results : All patient took postoperative temporal MRI of schwannoma removal, temporal bone CT, pure tone audiogram. During 2-5 months outpatient follow-up, of course there should be further long period observation, we concluded there were some advantages of patient’s hearing level. Conclusions : There should be a lot of further studies in Baha Attract implant model, it can be one of useful treatments for SSD patients to improve hearing levels