**4.2 Quality of life**

The data relative to the quality of life issue has already been reported [7]. This group of patients has been pooled together with other subjects receiving different types of auditory implant. In total, this survey has taken into consideration the 26 Esteem® subjects who were all asked to fill different questionnaires including the General Glasgow Benefit Inventory, the visual analogue scale (VAS), and the abbreviated profile of hearing aid benefit (APHAB). The improvement of quality of sound was similar to the other implanted devices, whilst the score for quality of life was superior to both percutaneous bone conductive implants and to the Vibrant Soundbridge® (Medel, Innsbruck, Austria), equaling only that measured with the Bonebridge® (Medel, Innsbruck, Austria).
