Bone-anchored hearing devices in children with unilateral conductive hearing loss: a patient-carer perspective.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to determine the outcome of implantation of a bone-anchored hearing device in children with unilateral conductive hearing loss.


METHODS
A retrospective case note analysis was used in a tertiary referral pediatric hospital to study 17 consecutive cases of pediatric patients with unilateral conductive hearing loss who were fitted with a bone-anchored hearing device between 2005 and 2010.


RESULTS
The average age of the patients at the time of bone-anchored hearing device fitting was 10 years 6 months (range, 6 years 3 months to 16 years). Qualitative subjective outcome measures demonstrated benefit. The vast majority of patients reported improved social and physical functioning and improved quality of life. All 17 patients are currently using their bone-anchored hearing device on a daily basis after a follow-up of 6 months.


CONCLUSIONS
This study has shown improved quality of life in children with unilateral hearing loss after implantation of their bone-anchored hearing device. There was a high degree of patient satisfaction and improvement in health status reported by children and/or carers. Bone-anchored hearing devices have an important role in the management of children with symptomatic unilateral hearing loss. Perhaps earlier consideration of a bone-anchored hearing device would be appropriate in selected cases.
Department of Otolaryngology, Birmingham Children's Hospital, Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham B4 6NH, United Kingdom.
Rupan
R
Banga
Jayesh
J
Doshi
Anne
A
Child
Elizabeth
E
Pendleton
Andrew
A
Reid
Ann-Louise
AL
McDermott
D001844:Bone Conduction / Q000502:physiology*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000592:standards*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006314:Hearing Loss, Conductive / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D046088:Hearing Loss, Unilateral / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D053441:Suture Anchors