Use this checklist to help decide when to refer an adult for a bone conduction implant candidacy assessment.
Bone Conduction Implantable Device Candidacy Guidelines
Bone conduction implant candidacy considerations for adults
A bone conduction implant may improve hearing and speech understanding for adults with conductive or mixed hearing loss, or those who can’t wear conventional hearing aids. It may also improve everyday communication and quality of life.
This checklist is a quick screening tool. If the answer to two or more questions is yes, consider a referral for a bone conduction implant candidacy assessment.
Hearing test results
- Does the patient have a conductive hearing loss in either ear?
- Is the patient unable to wear hearing aids, or finding them difficult to wear (e.g. recurrent ear infections, atresia/microtia, significant irritation)?
- Does the patient have a good word recognition score with amplification?
Everyday listening
- Does the patient’s aided hearing loss significantly impact daily interactions either socially or professionally?
- Does the patient often ask people to repeat themselves?
- Is the patient withdrawing socially because the effort of listening has become overwhelming and/or frustrating?
A bone conduction implant is an established option for some adults with single-sided deafness (SSD). When considering one, we recommend:
- Stable hearing in the better hearing ear
- Hearing thresholds better than 20 dB HL on a 4 frequency average to ensure adequate amplification
Not sure if your patient meets the criteria? Call us on 0458 550 055 to discuss, or see when to refer for an assessment.
Get in touch
Whether you’re a patient, GP or health professional, our team is here to help. Contact us to make a referral, ask about hearing implants, or learn more about our services.
Referring a patient? Send referrals by email to [email protected]. Please include recent audiology results where available.
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