Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To assess the impact and the subjective benefit of Bone-anchored Hearing Aid (BAHA) implementation in patients with hearing impairment combined with moderate mental retardation.

STUDY DESIGN:

Case control study using two validated patient-oriented instruments.

SETTING:

Tertiary referral center.

PATIENTS:

Twenty-two patients with moderate mental retardation and conductive or mixed hearing loss.

INTERVENTION:

Rehabilitative.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Subjective benefit, listening and learning capabilities.

RESULTS:

BAHA implementation in patients with moderate mental retardation, by using the Glasgow Children's Benefit Inventory and the Listening Inventory for Education, showed a subjective benefit, which was comparable with that of the control group and was consistent with the results of earlier studies.

CONCLUSION:

The use of BAHA proved beneficial in most patients with hearing impairment and moderate mental retardation. Extending the indications for BAHA application to this special patient group shows to be a very valuable option.