Objective: Conductive hearing loss is a common problem, which effects quality of life in adults and children. The aim of this study is to determine the audological success and quality of life impact of bone anchored hearing aids in patients with conductive or mixed hearing loss.
Material and Method: Patients rehabilitated with bone anchored hearing aid for conductive or mixed type hearing loss in Cukurova University, Otolaryngology Department between January 2005 and September 2013 were included in the study.
Pure tone audiometry and free field audiometry were used for audiological evaluation. Functional gain was calculated by extraction of postoperative hearing threshold from preoperative air threshold. Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI) and International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids Turkish Version (IOI-HA-TR) were used for quality of life evaluation.
Results: The sum of the patients was 23. Functional gain of patients with bone anchored hearing aid was 31,3 dB at 500 Hz. 45,5 dB at 1000 Hz, 44,5 dB at 2000 Hz and 44,3 dB at 4000. The Glasgow Benefit Inventory score of adults with bone anchored hearing aid was 37.6. The subscale scores were 35.8 in general health, 39.8 in social health and 34.2 in physical health. The Glasgow Benefit Inventory score of children with bone anchored hearing aid was 41.6. The subscale scores were 51.4 in emotional health, 30.0 in social health, 47.1 in education and 32.0 in vital subscale.
Conclusion: Bone anchored hearing aid is an effective method in rehabilitation of conductive and mixed hearing loss.