The band-aid-fixed bone conduction hearing aid ADHEAR – a good solution for children with conductive hearing loss
2Clinic of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, St. Elisabeth-Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum
Conventional bone conduction hearing aids for children bear several disadvantages: headband-integrated systems are frequently not well accepted due to pressure on the head, sweating, or cosmetic stigma. Also, the mechanical conduction loss is higher as for per- or transcutaneous systems. The bone conduction hearing aid ADHEAR seems to overcome a part of these disadvantages by clipping an audio processor on a band-aid fixed behind the ear. Furthermore, it could be a solution for chronical draining ears.
A clinical study* evaluates the audiometric benefit, the usage and the patients` and parents` satisfaction of 10 children aged 0.5-10 years with a permanent conductive hearing loss using a band-aid-fixed ADHEAR system compared with a headband-integrated bone conduction hearing aid. Aided and unaided pure tone/behavioral observational audiometry and speech audiometry both in quiet and noise are assessed initially with both hearing devices and after 8 weeks of ADHEAR use and questionnaires are administered to the parents and children.
So far, 7 children are included in the study. They show a comparable, tendentially better audiometric outcome using the ADHEAR systems compared with head-band-integrated hearing aids. All parents evaluated the ADHEAR as useful or very useful device for their child. For children <2 years of age, adherence problems of the band-aid may occur. Allergic skin reactions occurred in two cases. The other five children continue using the ADHEAR.
The ADHEAR system seems to be an excellent technical solution for children with conductive hearing loss or chronical draining ears, given shortcomings regarding the adherence of the band-aid and allergic skin reactions can be overcome.
*Supported by MED-EL
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