Bilateral bone-anchored hearing aid application in children: the Nijmegen experience from 1996 to 2008.

OBJECTIVE: This study presents clinical data and quality of life questionnaire outcomes in children and young adults with bilateral Bone-Anchored Hearing Aids (BAHAs). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review. SETTING: Tertiary care referral center. PATIENTS: Eligible study subjects comprised 27 patients with bilateral conductive hearing loss fitted with bilateral BAHAs in childhood or as young adults at the Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre between June 1996 and October 2008. METHODS: Questionnaires comprised the "Daily use of bilateral BAHAs" questionnaire, the Glasgow Children's Benefit Inventory, and the Speech Spatial and Qualities of Hearing scale modified for children. RESULTS: A total of 23 children were selected to fill out the postal questionnaires; 21 (91%) of them responded. In 90%, both BAHAs were being used 7 days a week. One child was using 1 BAHA but not the other, and one child was only using both BAHAs at school. Nine children reported that they switched off both BAHAs when the background became too noisy. Bilateral BAHAs provided better hearing quality according to 70%. The Glasgow Children's Benefit Inventory demonstrated subjective overall benefit of +38 (n = 20). The spatial domain of the Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing scale showed a trend toward better spatial hearing with decreasing age at bilateral application. CONCLUSION: Bilateral percutaneous BAHAs can be applied simultaneously from the age of 4 years, after a successful trial period with the BAHA Softband or other equivalent hearing aids. Bilateral BAHAs showed clear benefit in the vast majority. Outcomes of bilateral audiologic testing are needed in the near future