Bone Anchored Hearing Aid (BAHA) in children: Experience of a tertiary referral centre in Portugal.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to describe the experience of a tertiary referral centre in Portugal, of the placement of BAHA in children. METHODS: The authors performed a retrospective analysis of all children for whom hearing rehabilitation with BAHA was indicated at a central hospital, between January 2003 and December 2014. RESULTS: 53 children were included. The most common indications for placement of BAHA were external and middle ear malformations (n=34, 64%) and chronic otitis media with difficult to control otorrhea (n=9, 17%). The average age for BAHA placement was 10.66±3.44 years. The average audiometric gain was 31.5±7.20dB compared to baseline values, with average hearing threshold with BAHA of 19.6±5.79dB. The most frequent postoperative complications were related to the skin (n=15, 28%). There were no major complications. CONCLUSIONS: This study concludes that BAHA is an effective and safe method of hearing rehabilitation in children.