The Oticon Ponto System in Adults With Severe-to-Profound and Mixed Hearing Loss: Audiologic Outcomes and Patient Satisfaction.

Objective: To measure audiologic outcomes and self-assessed satisfaction with the Ponto system in a group of patients who had severe to profound and mixed hearing loss. Study

Design: Retrospective case review. Setting: Tertiary referral center. Patients: Sixteen patients aged 21 to 74 years with severe-to-profound and mixed hearing loss (bone conduction thresholds, ≥45 dB HL). Interventions: Ponto implant surgery. Main outcome measures: Pure-tone audiometry, free-field hearing thresholds, effective gain, word recognition score in quiet, and speech reception threshold (SRT) in noise were assessed. Patient-reported outcomes were collected using the Clinical Global Impression Scale, Glasgow Benefit Inventory, and Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit. Information concerning any medical complications was also gathered.

Results: Both word recognition score and SRT were significantly better after 12 months compared with before surgery. At normal speech level (65 dB SPL), 12 of 16 users had speech discrimination ≥70%. However, at the 12-month follow-up, the average effective gain was -6.2 dB. In general, the self-report outcomes showed good satisfaction in most patients. Postoperatively, skin complications were noted in six patients, of whom two underwent reoperation. All patients were still using the Ponto after an average observation time of 2.7 years.

Conclusion: Although skin complications were not uncommon, the Ponto system seems to be an effective method of improving hearing performance and provides subjective satisfaction in real-life situations in patients with severe-to-profound and mixed hearing loss. However, considering the significantly increased bone conduction thresholds and the risk of their further deterioration, long-term follow-up is still needed.