On the evaluation of a superpower sound processor for bone‐anchored hearing

Objectives Performance of a superpower bone‐anchored hearing aid (Baha), the Baha Cordelle from Cochlear Bone‐Anchored Solutions (BCD1), was compared to its successor, the Baha 5 SuperPower (BCD2). Design A comparative study in which each patient served as its own control. Setting Tertiary clinic. Participants Ten experienced BCD1 users with profound mixed hearing loss. For comparison, data from another study with 10 experienced users with a severe mixed hearing loss using a Cochlear Baha 5 power sound processor (BCD‐P) were included. Main outcome measures Speech reception thresholds in noise and APHAB and SSQ questionnaires. Results Speech reception thresholds for the digits‐in‐noise (DIN) test were significantly lower (P 5%) from the BCD2 values. With the APHAB questionnaire scores were significantly lower, that is more favourable, for the ease of communication (P 5%). Conclusions Data for BCD2 in profound mixed loss are similar to those for BCD‐P and a severe mixed loss. Of 10 patients, 2 expressed a strong preference for BCD2 over BCD1, and 7 patients had a preference for BCD2 over BCD1. One patient preferred BCD1 because of its built‐in telecoil facility.