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| |  Bone-Anchored Hearing Aids a Useful Option for Children With Unilateral Hearing Loss CHICAGO -- February 15, 2010 -- Surgically implanted hearing aids anchored to the skull bone appear to be a durable treatment option that noticeably improves hearing among children with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss, according to a study published in the February issue of Archives of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. Unilateral sensorineural hearing loss is often associated with poor performance in school, learning difficulties, and behavioural problems, often attributed to the children’s inability to perform well in noisy conditions. Traditional, external hearing aids may improve comprehension and performance, but compliance is typically low, especially outside the classroom. “Treatment options for profound unilateral sensorineural hearing loss in children are limited, thereby creating a source of frustration and a need for alternative treatments,” the authors wrote. “In an effort to provide a durable treatment option, the bone-anchored hearing aid has been explored for use in children with single-sided deafness.” Lisa Christensen, MD, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Little Rock, Arkansas, and colleagues reviewed the charts of 23 children and teens aged 6 to 19 years (mean age, 12.6 y) with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss who received bone-anchored hearing aids over a 3-year period. Each surgery was performed in 2 stages with at least 6 months in between and patients were fitted with 1 of 2 types of bone-anchored hearing aid processors 2 weeks after the second stage. Hearing tests were conducted and each patient and a parent or guardian were asked to complete a questionnaire about listening difficulties before and after the fitting. Scores on both hearing tests and questionnaires improved significantly following surgery. Both children (7 patients aged younger than 13 years) and teens (16 patients) demonstrated improvements in hearing. The complication rate was 17%, with complications being more common in teenagers and including skin reactions and lost fixtures. “In conclusion, the treatment of children and teenagers with profound unilateral sensorineural hearing loss has been frustrating owing to the known disability associated with this condition and to a lack of acceptance and benefit of traditional amplification techniques,” the authors wrote. “These findings are helpful in counseling children 5 years and older and their families regarding treatment options for single-sided deafness.”
SOURCE: Archives of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery
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