THE BIRMINGHAM BONE-ANCHORED HEARING AED PROGRAM - REFERRALS, SELECTION, REHABILITATION, PHILOSOPHY AND ADULT RESULTS

The Birmingham bone anchored hearing aid team is part of the Birmingha m osseointegrated programme. In the first seven years of its existence it has received 309 referrals. Twenty-six per cent had suffered a con genital conductive hearing loss and 74 per cent had an acquired conduc tive hearing loss; the majority secondary to chronic suppurative otiti s media. This report is of 68 out of 106 adults wearing bone anchored hearing aids (BAHAs). Ninety-eight per cent showed audiological improv ement with the congenital group demonstrating marginally the best free -field thresholds and speech discrimination. Questionnaire data as to the patient experience confirms the benefits especially hearing in noi se, and comfort, and the vast majority were more satisfied with the bo ne anchored hearing aid than their previous aid.