Understanding low uptake of bone anchored hearing ads: A review.

Background: Bone anchored hearing aids (Baha) improve hearing for patients for whom conventional behind-the-ear aids are problematic. However, uptake of Baha is low and it is important to understand why this is the case.
Method: A narrative review was conducted. Studies examining why people accept or decline Baha and satisfaction in people with Baha were reviewed.
Results: Reasons for declining Baha included limited perceived benefits, concerns about surgery, aesthetic concerns and treatment cost. No studies providing in-depth analysis of reasons for declining or accepting Baha were identified. Studies of patient satisfaction showed that most participants reported benefits with Baha. However, most studies used cross-sectional and/or retrospective designs and only included people with Baha.
Conclusions: Important avenues for further research are: in-depth qualitative research designed to fully understand the Baha decision-making process, and rigorous quantitative research comparing satisfaction in people who receive Baha with those who receive alternative (or no) treatments.