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Bone-anchored hearing aids in children and young adults: the Freeman Hospital experience
Y Ramakrishnan1, S Marley, D Leese
1Newcastle Bone Anchored Hearing Aid Programme, Department of ENT and Audiology, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK. yujay.ramakrishnan@gmail.com
Insights
Bone-anchored hearing aids and Softband significantly improve quality of life for pediatric and young adult hearing loss patients. Further investigation and implantation are recommended for children with skull abnormalities.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Pediatric Otolaryngology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Hearing impairment affects pediatric and young adult populations, impacting quality of life.
- Bone-anchored hearing aids (BAHA) and Softband offer potential solutions for hearing loss.
- Understanding the real-world benefits and utilization in a specific patient cohort is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the utilization and quality of life outcomes of BAHA and Softband in pediatric and young adult patients.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of these hearing devices in a UK hospital setting.
- To identify potential under-utilization in specific patient groups.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective, anonymized, cross-sectional survey design.
- Utilized the Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI) and Listening Situation Questionnaire (LSQ).
- Data collected at least three months post-device initiation.
Main Results:
- 109 patients included; 22 had syndromic conditions.
- BAHA users reported significant educational and social benefits.
- Mean LSQ score was 17 (below threshold), with 87% not needing further intervention.
- Mean GBI score was +29, indicating substantial quality of life improvement.
Conclusions:
- BAHA and Softband significantly enhance quality of life for pediatric and young adult hearing loss patients.
- Significant under-utilization of BAHA noted in children with skull and congenital abnormalities.
- Advocates for increased BAHA implantation in eligible pediatric patients.
Objective:
To investigate the utilisation of bone-anchored hearing aids and Softband, as well as the effects on quality of life, amongst the paediatric and young adult population of Freeman Hospital, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.
Method:
Retrospective, anonymised, cross-sectional survey using the Glasgow Benefit Inventory and Listening Situation Questionnaire (parent version), administered at least three months following the start of bone-anchored hearing aid or Softband use.
Results:
One hundred and nine patients were included, of whom syndromic children made up a significant proportion (22 of 109). Patients using bone-anchored hearing aids obtained significant educational and social benefit from their aids. The mean Listening Situation Questionnaire difficulty score was 17 (15 patients), which is below the trigger score of 22+ at which further reassessment and rehabilitation is required. 87% (of 15 patients) did not require further intervention. The overall mean GBI score for the 22 patients (syndromic and non-syndromic) was +29.
Conclusion:
The use of bone-anchored hearing aids and Softband results in significant improvements in quality of life for children and young adults with hearing impairment. There is significant under-utilisation of bone-anchored hearing aids in children with skull and congenital abnormalities, and we would advocate bone-anchored hearing aid implantation for these patients.
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