Quality of life and audological results of patients with bone anchored hearing aid

ABSTRACT Quality of Life and Audologıcal Results of Patients With Bone Anchored Hearing Aid Objective: Conductive hearing loss is a common problem, which effects quality of life in adults and children. Conventional hearing aids, middle ear surgeries and bone anchored hearing aids are possible treatment options for this condition. The aim of this study is to determine the audological success and quality of life impact of bone anchored hearing aids and softband devices in patients with conductive or mixed hearing loss. Material and Method: Patients rehabilitated with bone anchored hearing aid or softband device for conductive or mixed type hearing loss in Cukurova University, Otolaryngology Department between January 2005 and September 2013 were included in the study. The etiology of hearing loss was chronic suppurative otitis media or external auditory canal atresia. The sum of the patients was 34. There were 23 patients with bone anchored hearing aid and 11 with softband device. Pure tone audiometry and free field audiometry were used for audiological evaluation. Functional gain was calculated by extraction of postoperative hearing threshold from preoperative air threshold. Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI) and International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids Turkish Version (IOI-HA-TR) were used for quality of life evaluation. Results: The sum of the patients was 34. There were 23 patients with bone anchored hearing aid and 11 with softband device. Functional gain of patients with bone anchored hearing aid was 31,3 dB at 500 Hz. 45,5 dB at 1000 Hz, 44,5 dB at 2000 Hz and 44,3 dB at 4000. The Glasgow Benefit Inventory score of adults with bone anchored hearing aid was 27.6. The subscale scores were 35.8 in general health, 39.8 in social health and 34.2 in physical health. The Glasgow Benefit Inventory score of children with bone anchored hearing aid was 41.6. The subscale scores were 51.4 in emotional health, 30.0 in social health, 47.1 in education and 32.0 in vital subscale. IOI-HA-TR results were 25.22 in patients with bone anchored hearing aid and 26.45 in patients with softband device. Two patients had (8,7 %) had osseointegration problem and 11 patients (47,8 %) had skin reactions. Conclusion: Bone anchored hearing aid is an effective method in rehabilitation of conductive and mixed hearing loss. It has positive effect on quality of life issue also. Use of softband devices in patients with external ear malformations has similar effects. Further researches are required in order to understand the long term results of these devices. Keywords: Hearing Aid, Softband, Osseointegration, Quality of Life