OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the self-rated quality of life (QoL) and benefits associated with the use of bone-anchored hearing aids (BAHAs) and to identify potential improvements in comparison to the previous conventional hearing aids. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: BAHA program in tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: One hundred fifty-two adults who underwent BAHA procedure for more than 6 months. INTERVENTION: Rehabilitative. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Results of the Entific Medical Systems questionnaire. RESULTS: One hundred seventeen responses (77%) were obtained. Overall satisfaction was excellent (median = 9). BAHA was rated very good/excellent in single-person conversation (85%), but fared less well in group situation (45%). BAHA was reported as better than the previous aid by more than 50% of patients within each subcategory where applicable (handling, 64%; comfort, 56%; cosmetic, 60%; sound, 68%; infections, 75%). Of those who reported improvement of ear infections, one quarter remained unsatisfied of improvement in QoL. Patients who used BAHA for 3 years or less (n = 45) had a similar rating to sound quality and conversation as those who used it longer (n = 72). Surprisingly, a subset of patients (n = 8) with poor bone-conduction thresholds (> 45 dB) remained satisfied with the device (median = 8). CONCLUSIONS: The BAHA can improve QoL and hearing outcome with full acclimatization to the device being achievable within a reasonable amount of time. As with conventional aids, sound quality in group situations remains poor with the BAHA. Our results provide a predictive value during preoperative counseling of patients.
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the self-rated quality of life (QoL) and benefits associated with the use of bone-anchored hearing aids (BAHAs) and to identify potential improvements in comparison to the previous conventional hearing aids. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: BAHA program in tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: One hundred fifty-two adults who underwent BAHA procedure for more than 6 months. INTERVENTION: Rehabilitative. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Results of the Entific Medical Systems questionnaire. RESULTS: One hundred seventeen responses (77%) were obtained. Overall satisfaction was excellent (median = 9). BAHA was rated very good/excellent in single-person conversation (85%), but fared less well in group situation (45%). BAHA was reported as better than the previous aid by more than 50% of patients within each subcategory where applicable (handling, 64%; comfort, 56%; cosmetic, 60%; sound, 68%; infections, 75%). Of those who reported improvement of ear infections, one quarter remained unsatisfied of improvement in QoL. Patients who used BAHA for 3 years or less (n = 45) had a similar rating to sound quality and conversation as those who used it longer (n = 72). Surprisingly, a subset of patients (n = 8) with poor bone-conduction thresholds (> 45 dB) remained satisfied with the device (median = 8). CONCLUSIONS: The BAHA can improve QoL and hearing outcome with full acclimatization to the device being achievable within a reasonable amount of time. As with conventional aids, sound quality in group situations remains poor with the BAHA. Our results provide a predictive value during preoperative counseling of patients.
Authors: G Ricci; A Della Volpe; M Faralli; F Longari; M Gullà; N Mansi; A Frenguelli Journal: Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol Date: 2010-06-10 Impact factor: 2.503
Authors: Sébastien Schmerber; O Deguine; M Marx; P Van de Heyning; O Sterkers; I Mosnier; P Garin; B Godey; C Vincent; F Venail; M Mondain; A Deveze; J P Lavieille; A Karkas Journal: Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol Date: 2016-07-30 Impact factor: 2.503
Authors: Mark W Steehler; Sean P Larner; Joshua S Mintz; Matthew K Steehler; Sidney P Lipman; Shane Griffith Journal: Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol Date: 2018-01-18