Long-term evaluation of development in patients with bilateral microtia using softband bone conducted hearing devices

The ability of early intervention with softband bone conducted hearing device (BCHD) to ensure normal development of speech, language and psychosocial situations remains undetermined. We aimed to evaluate auditory and speech development, as well as psychosocial situations of children with bilateral microtia fitted with a softband BCHD for 3-5 years.

The study included 53 patients with bilateral microtia and 53 sex- and age-matched children with normal hearing. Auditory development was evaluated using the Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale (MAIS) and Categories of Auditory Performance (CAP). Speech Intelligibility Rating (SIR) and Meaningful Use of Speech Scale (MUSS) were used to assess speech development. The psychometric properties of these patients were evaluated using Achenbach's Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), and subjective benefits were measured using the Glasgow Children's Benefit Inventory (GCBI) questionnaire.

The average unaided and aided hearing thresholds measured using VRA were 73.8 ± 5.1 dB HL and 30.5 ± 6.0 dB HL, respectively. The total MAIS scores of the patients were 89.6 ± 9.6% and 93.0 ± 8.8% of normal hearing children at the last follow-up. The CAP scores of the two groups were 6.5 ± 1.3 and 6.9 ± 0.3, respectively. The mean MUSS score of the patients and the control group were 31.9 ± 7.0 and 34.3 ± 6.0, respectively. The mean SIR score of the two groups were 4.6 ± 0.7 and 4.8 ± 0.4. CBCL found that only two patients could be considered problematic psychosocially. The average benefit score on the GCBI was 32.9 ± 29.3.

Softband BCHD significantly improved auditory development in patients with bilateral microtia, with speech development reaching the level of normal hearing peers. No significant behavioral problems were found in the patients, with subjective evaluations showing that softband BCHD improved patient quality of life.