Benefit and quality of life in older bone-anchored hearing aid users

Abstract

Objective: Benefit and quality-of-life analysis in the older adult bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA) users.

Study design: Retrospective evaluation.

Methods: Four questionnaires (Glasgow Benefit Inventory, Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit [APHAB], Nijmegen Cochlear Implant Questionnaire [NCIQ], and the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly screening version [HHIE-S]) were used.

Results: The response rate was 80%, mean age was 75 years (range, 62-93 yr), and mean pure-tone average at frequencies of 500, 1,000, 2,000, and 4,000 Hz for bone conduction was 42 +/- 13 dBHL. More than 80% of the patients were using their BAHA for more than 8 hours a day. To obtain a "snapshot" of current BAHA use, the NCIQ, HHIE-S, and the APHAB were used. The NCIQ showed good disability and handicap results (score range, 49-64). The HHIE-S showed that 60% of the patients had a mild to moderate handicap. The APHAB aided scores ranged from 39 to 58%. Mean benefit scores of the Glasgow Benefit Inventory were positive in 112 of the 134 patients (84%). The APHAB showed clinically significantly more benefit with the BAHA than with the previous aided or unaided situation. A trend could be seen-the higher the pure-tone average at frequencies of 500, 1,000, 2,000, and 4,000 Hz for bone conduction, the smaller the mean benefit scores on the questionnaires.

Conclusion: Bone-anchored hearing aid users aged 60 years or older were able to place and handle the device very adequately and clean the skin around the implant. Most patients reported comparable or increased general benefit and good quality of life with the BAHA.