Auditory development after placement of bone-anchored hearing aids Softband among Chinese Mandarin-speaking children with bilateral aural atresia

Abstract

ObjectiveTo evaluate auditory developments of Chinese Mandarin-speaking children with congenital bilateral aural atresia after using Bone-anchored hearing aids (Baha) Softband and to compare them with matched peers with normal hearing. MethodSixteen patients (age ranging from 3 months to 6 years) with bilateral aural atresia and 29 children with normal hearing (age ranging from 8 months to 6 years) were studied. Auditory development was assessed at three time intervals: baseline, 6 months and 12 months. Infant-Toddler Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale (IT-MAIS) was conducted for children under 4 years old; Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale (MAIS), Chinese Mandarin lexical neighborhood test (MLNT) and sound field pure tone audiometry (PTA) were used for children of 4–6 years old. ResultsMean IT-MAIS scores were 41±24%, 60±22% and 73±7%, respectively at three time intervals. Mean MAIS scores were 66±7%, 90±5%, and 99±2%. Mean speech discrimination scores at the three time intervals were 74±19%, 86±16%, and 95±4% with the easy disyllabic (D-E) list; 48±18%, 73±15%, and 81±7% with the hard disyllabic (D-H) list; 55±17%, 74±22%, and 83±14% with the easy monosyllabic(M-E) list; and 31±14%, 61±15%, and 71±13% with the hard monosyllabic (M-H) list. ConclusionsBaha Softband is suitable for infants and young children with bilateral atresia. Results from these auditory development testing are encouraging. Baha Softband should be used as a bridge for surgical implantations when the temporal bone is thick enough.