Objective. To compare hearing and speech understanding between a new, nonskin penetrating Baha system (Baha Attract) to\nthe current Baha system using a skin-penetrating abutment. Methods. Hearing and speech understanding were measured in 16\nexperienced Baha users. The transmission path via the abutment was compared to a simulated Baha Attract transmission path by\nattaching the implantable magnet to the abutment and then by adding a sample of artificial skin and the external parts of the Baha\nAttract system. Four different measurements were performed: bone conduction thresholds directly through the sound processor\n(BC Direct), aided sound field thresholds, aided speech understanding in quiet, and aided speech understanding in noise. Results.\nThesimulated Baha Attract transmission path introduced an attenuation starting fromapproximately 5 dB at 1000Hz, increasing to\n20ââ?¬â??25 dB above 6000Hz. However, aided sound field threshold shows smaller differences and aided speech understanding in quiet\nand in noise does not differ significantly between the two transmission paths. Conclusion. The Baha Attract system transmission\npath introduces predominately high frequency attenuation. This attenuation can be partially compensated by adequate fitting of\nthe speech processor. No significant decrease in speech understanding in either quiet or in noise was found.
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