Bone anchored hearing aids: a preliminary assessment of the impact on outpatients and cost when rehabilitating hearing in chronic suppurative otitis media

Objectives: To compare the difference in ENT and Audiology visits, treatments dispensed and potential savings pre‐ and post‐bone anchored hearing aid (BAHA) insertion in patients with chronic suppurative otitis media exacerbated by behind the ear hearing aids. Design: A retrospective pilot study....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Clinical otolaryngology Vol. 33; no. 4; pp. 338 - 342
Main Authors:	Watson, G.J., Silva, S., Lawless, T., Harling, J.L., Sheehan, P.Z.
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-08-2008
Subjects:	Adult Aged Aged, 80 and over Ambulatory Care - utilization Costs and Cost Analysis Equipment Design Female Hearing Aids - economics Humans Male Middle Aged Otitis Media, Suppurative - rehabilitation Outpatients United Kingdom
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Summary:	Objectives: To compare the difference in ENT and Audiology visits, treatments dispensed and potential savings pre‐ and post‐bone anchored hearing aid (BAHA) insertion in patients with chronic suppurative otitis media exacerbated by behind the ear hearing aids. Design: A retrospective pilot study. Setting: District General Hospital. Participants: All patients who had BAHA inserted from January 2001 to January 2006. Parameters: Age, gender, number of visits per month, treatments per month dispensed from the ENT and Audiology Departments and direct and limited indirect medical costs pre‐ and post‐BAHA insertion. Results: Twelve of 26 (46%) adult patients had BAHA inserted over the 5‐year period for CSOM. The male to female ratio was 1 : 3 with a median age of 61 (range 29–81). The number of visits and treatments dispensed per month in the ENT Department fell from a mean of 0.42–0.33 (P < 0.08) and 0.22–0.14 (P < 0.02) respectfully. When the difference in medical cost was taken into account BAHA offered a potential saving of £627.80 per patient. Conclusion: Although the initial acquisition of surgical equipment and BAHA sound processors is expensive, there is a reduction in the number of treatments and visits required for patients with chronic suppurative otitis media after BAHA is inserted leading to a reduction in average costs.
Bibliography:	ArticleID:COA1698 ark:/67375/WNG-XLKH475X-L istex:47F9C7C85DF60FE7F595BFC9ADD471059383D1A3 ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	1749-4478 1749-4486
DOI:	10.1111/j.1749-4486.2008.01698.x