Bone-anchored hearing aid in patients with moderate mental retardation: impact and benefit assessment.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the impact and the subjective benefit of Bone-anchored Hearing Aid (BAHA) implementation in patients with hearing impairment combined with moderate mental retardation.


METHODS
Case control study using two validated patient-oriented instruments.


METHODS
Tertiary referral center.


METHODS
Twenty-two patients with moderate mental retardation and conductive or mixed hearing loss.


METHODS
Rehabilitative.


METHODS
Subjective benefit, listening and learning capabilities.


RESULTS
BAHA implementation in patients with moderate mental retardation, by using the Glasgow Children's Benefit Inventory and the Listening Inventory for Education, showed a subjective benefit, which was comparable with that of the control group and was consistent with the results of earlier studies.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of BAHA proved beneficial in most patients with hearing impairment and moderate mental retardation. Extending the indications for BAHA application to this special patient group shows to be a very valuable option.
Kunst
Sylvia J W
SJ
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. s.kunst@kno.umcn.nl
Hol
Myrthe K
MK
Cremers
Cor W
CW
Mylanus
Emmanuel A
EA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D004493:Education; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome