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Patient satisfaction with bilateral bone-anchored hearing aids: the Birmingham experience

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 March 2006

Sunil N. Dutt
Affiliation:
Departments of Otolaryngology and Implantation Otology, The Queen Elizabeth, Selly Oak and Birmingham Children’s Hospitals, Birmingham University, UK.
Ann-Louise McDermott
Affiliation:
Departments of Otolaryngology and Implantation Otology, The Queen Elizabeth, Selly Oak and Birmingham Children’s Hospitals, Birmingham University, UK.
Stuart P. Burrell
Affiliation:
Departments of Otolaryngology and Implantation Otology, The Queen Elizabeth, Selly Oak and Birmingham Children’s Hospitals, Birmingham University, UK.
Huw R. Cooper
Affiliation:
Departments of Otolaryngology and Implantation Otology, The Queen Elizabeth, Selly Oak and Birmingham Children’s Hospitals, Birmingham University, UK.
Andrew P. Reid
Affiliation:
Departments of Otolaryngology and Implantation Otology, The Queen Elizabeth, Selly Oak and Birmingham Children’s Hospitals, Birmingham University, UK.
David W. Proops
Affiliation:
Departments of Otolaryngology and Implantation Otology, The Queen Elizabeth, Selly Oak and Birmingham Children’s Hospitals, Birmingham University, UK.

Abstract

The Birmingham bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA) programme has fitted more than 300 patients with unilateral bone-anchored hearing aids since 1988. Some of the patients who benefited well with unilateral aids and who had used bilateral conventional aids previously applied for bilateral amplification. To date, 15 patients have been fitted with bilateral BAHAs. The benefits of bilateral amplification have been compared to unilateral amplification in 11 of these patients. Subjective analysis in the form of validated comprehensive questionnaires was undertaken.

The Glasgow benefit inventory (GBI), which is a subjective patient orientated post-interventional questionnaire developed to evaluate any otorhinolaryngological surgery and therapy was administered. The results revealed that the use of bilateral bone-anchored hearing aids significantly enhanced general well being (patient benefit) and improved the patient’s state of health (quality of life). The Chung and Stephens questionnaire which addresses specific issues related to binaural hearing was used. Our preliminary results are encouraging and are comparable to the experience of the Nijmegen BAHA group.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© Royal Society of Medicine Press Limited 2002

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