Influence of Bone Conduction Hearing Implantation on Health-Related Quality of Life for Patients with Chronic Otitis Media

Abstract

Background: Chronic otitis media is a major public health burden that can result in a disabling hearing loss. Bone conduction hearing implants are an accepted form of hearing rehabilitation in these patients, but evidence supporting their usage typically comes from studies investigating mixed indications. The objective of our study was to examine how these devices impact health-related quality of life and hearing-disability in adult patients suffering from chronic otitis media.

Methods: Health Utilities Index-mark III (n = 10) and Speech Spatial and Qualities of Hearing-49 data (n = 6) were extracted for adult patients with chronic otitis media from an international hearing implant registry. Data were compared at baseline and at 12-month post-implantation with a bone conduction hearing implant.

Results: Patients demonstrated a clinically relevant mean utility gain of 0.145 following implantation and clinically relevant mean improvement in global speech spatial and qualities of hearing score following implantation.

Conclusions: Bone conduction implantation was found to improve hearing and health-related quality of life and reduce hearing disability in a small cohort of patients with chronic otitis media. These data highlight the importance of providing appropriate hearing rehabilitation for individuals with chronic otitis media.

Keywords: bone conduction implant; cholesteatoma; chronic otitis media; hearing loss; hearing rehabilitation; quality of life; utility gain.

Figure 1

Mean HUI-3 single attribute scores pre-implantation and at 12-month follow-up (n = 10). Error bars represent the standard deviation of the mean. The improvement in hearing and pain attribute was clinically relevant between pre-implantation and 12-month follow-up.

Figure 2

Distribution of HUI-3 utility scores pre-implantation and at 12-month follow-up (n = 10). Median values are represented by lines and means by crosses.

Figure 3

SSQ speech domain scores pre-implantation and at 12-month follow-up (n = 6). Median values are represented by lines and means by crosses.

Figure 4

SSQ spatial domain scores pre-implantation and at 12-month follow-up (n = 6). Median values are represented by lines and means by crosses.

Figure 5

SSQ qualities domain scores pre-implantation and at 12-month follow-up (n = 6). Median values are represented by lines and means by crosses.

Figure 6

Global SSQ scores pre-implantation and at 12-month follow-up (n = 6). Median values are represented by lines and means by crosses.