Day to day use and service-related issues with the bone-anchored hearing aid: the Entific Medical Systems questionnaire

Abstract

Over a 12-year period, the Birmingham implantation otology unit has implanted more than 300 patients with bone-anchored hearing aids (BAHA). The Entific Medical Systems questionnaire was administered to these patients to evaluate the day to day use of the BAHA, professional needs, after-care, wear and tear concerns and service related issues. Data analysis revealed that most patients used their BAHA for more than eight hours a day (90 per cent of BAHA users) and every day of the week (93 per cent of BAHA users). A high degree of satisfaction was expressed as regards sound amplification, listening to radio or television news, listening to music, speech perception in quiet conditions, during conversation with one person in noisy surroundings and conversation with family at home. Some degree of difficulty was expressed with the use of the BAHA during conversation with two or more people in noisy surroundings. A slow process of perceptual acclimatization was noticed with the majority of the patients. The majority of patients were pleased with the service as regards care of the wound, BAHA nursing clinics, device repairs and other service-related issues.