Case Report: From soft headband to surgery: perspectives on the transition to surgical bone conduction devices in children

Children using bone conduction hearing technology may, if of interest to the family, transition from non-surgical transcutaneous bone conduction devices (BCDs) to implanted solutions. Patients and families must navigate challenging decisions about pursuing surgery for a BCD, considering factors such as the child's age, developmental stage, and individualized hearing needs. Considerations around optimal timing, potential surgical complications, and balancing anticipated auditory benefits against future uncertainties can make the decision process challenging. These factors highlight the importance of comprehensive audiologic support and evidence-based counseling. To illustrate these considerations, this case report includes a detailed case study of a pediatric patient who transitioned from non-surgical transcutaneous BCD on a soft headband to an implanted solution. This case report will (1) highlight key counseling points for families considering surgical BCDs, (2) explore challenges encountered during surgical decision-making, (3) examine approaches for assessing candidacy and selecting devices, and (4) evaluate audiologic benefit as well as patient and family satisfaction following BCD implantation.