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. 2021 Jun;131(6):1378-1381.
doi: 10.1002/lary.29315. Epub 2020 Dec 9.

Hearing Status and Aural Rehabilitative Profile of 878 Patients With Sporadic Vestibular Schwannoma

Robert J Macielak  1 , John P Marinelli  2 , Samuel A Spear  2 , Debbie L Hahs-Vaughn  3 , Michael J Link  1   4 , Chad Nye  5 , Matthew L Carlson  1   4
Affiliations

Hearing Status and Aural Rehabilitative Profile of 878 Patients With Sporadic Vestibular Schwannoma

Robert J Macielak et al. Laryngoscope. 2021 Jun.

Abstract

Objectives/hypothesis: To examine the hearing status and aural rehabilitative profile in a national cohort of patients with sporadic vestibular schwannoma (VS).

Study design: Cross-sectional survey METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of Acoustic Neuroma Association members diagnosed with sporadic VS was performed from February 2017 through January 2019. Self-reported results were used to determine the aural rehabilitative profile of respondents.

Results: Among survey respondents, 62.2% (546/878) were not using any hearing-assistive device at time of survey. For the 37.8% (332/878) that were utilizing hearing-assistive devices, 32.8% (109/332) reported using a behind-the-ear hearing aid, 23.8% (79/332) used a contralateral routing of signal (CROS) hearing aid, and 21.7% (72/332) used a bone conduction device. Notably, 41.9% (278/663) of patients who previously underwent tumor treatment reported utilizing a hearing rehabilitation device at some point during VS management compared to 27.0% (58/215) of those undergoing observation with serial imaging (P < .001). Of 275 patients with functional hearing in the ipsilateral ear, 26.5% (73/275) reported having used at least one type of hearing device; 24.0% (66/275) reported use of a conventional hearing aid, 0.7% (2/275) a CROS aid, and 0.4% (1/275) a bone conduction device. Among respondents reporting ipsilateral nonfunctional hearing, 44.9% (258/575) reported having used at least one type of hearing device; 13.0% (75/575) a CROS aid, and 12.3% (71/575) a bone conduction device.

Conclusions: Even among a cohort with presumably elevated literacy surrounding hearing rehabilitation options, few patients with a history of unilateral vestibular schwannoma ultimately use hearing assistive devices long-term, suggesting that most patients sufficiently adjust to unilateral hearing loss or are unsatisfied with the benefits achieved with current device options.

Level of evidence: 4 Laryngoscope, 131:1378-1381, 2021.

Keywords: Acoustic Neuroma Association; Vestibular schwannoma; acoustic neuroma; hearing; quality of life; rehabilitation.

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References

REFERENCES

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