Question
How do you conduct a typical first meeting with a candidate for a bone anchored hearing device?
Answer
A typical first meeting for a bone anchored hearing device (BAHD) candidate and/or parent would entail review and discussion of the patient’s audiogram/hearing loss. Depending on the type and degree of hearing loss, as well as structural limitations of the ear canal, different options would be discussed. I would also assess the benefits of a bone anchored hearing device over a conventional air conduction hearing aid or CROS for that particular patient (should the patient not have outer ear malformations), and review the different features available in the bone anchored hearing devices. Once we have reviewed the information above, I would program a demo softband BAHD with the use of our Skull Simulator, and the patient would undergo testing in various listening environments in our soundproof booth to determine benefit.
This Ask the Expert is an excerpt from Setting Patient Expectations for Bone Anchored Hearing Device Users.
