The Journal of International
Advanced Otology
Original Article

Hearing Aid Uptake in Children with Unilateral Microtia and Canal Atresia: A Comparison between a Tertiary Center and Peripheral Centers

1.

Department of Otolaryngology, Arrowe Park Hospital, Birkenhead, United Kingdom

2.

Department of Otolaryngology, Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom

J Int Adv Otol 2020; 16: 73-76
DOI: 10.5152/iao.2020.5509
Read: 1963 Downloads: 965 Published: 01 April 2020

OBJECTIVES: To review the trialing and uptake of hearing aids in children with unilateral microtia or canal atresia, known collectively as congenital unilateral conductive hearing loss (CUCHL), observed in a tertiary hospital and local peripheral services.

MATERIALS and METHODS: A retrospective review of medical records for patients with CUCHL was conducted using data from a shared audiology database at a tertiary children’s hospital.

RESULTS: We identified 45 patients with CUCHL and excluded seven of them due to missing data. Of the 38 patients, 16 (16/38, 42%) did not have any subjective hearing complaints. Furthermore, 32% (12/38) of patients attended audiology at a tertiary centre and 83% (10/12) from this group trialled a hearing aid. In comparison, 46% (12/46) whose audiology care was delivered peripherally trialled aiding.  Of the patients from the tertiary center, 58% (7/12) are still using a hearing aid compared to 27% (7/26) of patients from peripheral centers.

CONCLUSION: Our analysis shows that patients with CUCHL are more likely to try hearing aids and continue using them if their audiology care is in a tertiary center. Allowing for a small sample size, this may indicate a health inequality. Agreeing on minimum standards for the management of patients with CUCHL or managing them in a designated center could increase consistency.

Cite this article as: Kanzara T, Ford A, Fleming E, De S. Hearing Aid Uptake in Children with Unilateral Microtia and Canal Atresia: A Comparison between a Tertiary Center and Peripheral Centers. J Int Adv Otol 2020; 16(1): 73-6.

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