Objectives: The goals were to evaluate hearing, complications, and patient satisfaction with the percutaneous bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA) and to monitor long-term successful use achieved by careful patient selection.
Methods: This prospective longitudinal study included participants with inoperable congenital bilateral aural atresia, pure-tone average (PTA) bone conduction less than 45 dB HL, prior use of a conventional bone-conduction hearing aid (CBCA), and adequate intelligence, integration, and personal hygiene. Surgery for BAHA implantation was performed in two stages. Evaluation consisted of skin reactions, audiologic results with CBCA and BAHA, and patient satisfaction. Follow-up was at least 24 months.
Results: In 11 participants aged 5 to 17 years, the PTA free-field air conduction improved 37%, and free-field speech discrimination improved 23%. Successful integration and implant use were achieved in 10 cases but were lost in 1 case as a result of head trauma. All patients preferred the BAHA as opposed to the CBCA.
Conclusions: The BAHA is a valuable device that can improve hearing and provide significant parent and patient satisfaction. Careful selection appears to correlate with successful long-term use.