Bone-anchored hearing aid in patients with moderate mental retardation: Impact and benefit assessment

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.