Bone-anchored hearing aid: comparison of benefit by patient subgroups.
OBJECTIVE
The osseointegrated bone-anchored hearing aid, using the Branemark system, is well established and has proven benefit. The aim was to study quality of life benefits within patient subgroups using the validated Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI).


METHODS
Retrospective questionnaire study.


METHODS
Ninety-four consecutive patients were enrolled into the study. Mean patient age was 49 years, with a female-to-male ratio of 1.1:1. Patient subgroups were discharging mastoid cavities, chronic active otitis media, congenital ear problems, otosclerosis, and acoustic neuroma and other unilateral hearing losses.


RESULTS
The response rate was 73%. The score for total benefit of bone-anchored hearing aid fitting for the entire group was +33.3 (95% confidence interval [CI], 25-42). Glasgow Benefit Inventory scores for each subgroup were all greater than +20. The congenital atresia group scored highest with +45 (95% CI, 28-61). Variation in benefit across the subgroups has been demonstrated. Fitting of BAHA following acoustic neuroma surgery was shown to be of benefit with a score of +22.2. General benefits scored highest in all subgroups compared with physical and social benefits.


CONCLUSIONS
The study demonstrated the differences in benefit within patient subgroups. Its results can be used to give patients a predictive value at the time of preoperative counseling. The study identified congenital ear disorders as the group likely to obtain maximal benefit. Notably, for the first time, the study demonstrated the documented benefit of restoring stereo hearing to patients who have acquired unilateral hearing loss following acoustic neuroma surgery using a BAHA.
McLarnon
Claire M
CM
Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Audiology, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK. clairemrennison@hotmail.com
Davison
Tom
T
Johnson
Ian J M
IJ
D001844:Bone Conduction / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008416:Mastoid; D008875:Middle Aged; D016348:Osseointegration; D017755:Prosthesis Fitting; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires