Do patients report quality of life improvements after fitting of their unilateral bone conducting hearing implant?

Abstract

AbstractObjectiveThe audiological benefits of a bone conducting hearing implant are well documented; however, there is a paucity of literature comparing pre- and post-operative quality of life benefits. This study assessed the quality of life status before and after the device is implanted.MethodsA prospective study was conducted of all adult bone conducting hearing implants inserted in a teaching hospital between 2012 and 2017. All patients completed the Glasgow Health Status Inventory, a validated quality of life questionnaire, before and three to six months after implantation.ResultsSixty-two patients received a unilateral bone conducting hearing implant. All scores except the social score improved post-operatively. The paired t-test showed that the differences in the means for the Glasgow Health Status Inventory total, general and physical scores were statistically significant at the 5 per cent level (p < 0.0001).ConclusionThis study, one of the few to assess quality of life pre- and post-implantation, showed a vast improvement in patients’ perceived quality of life from the pre- to the post-operative phase.