Vibroplasty for Mixed and Conductive Hearing Loss

Abstract

Modern application methods of an active middle ear implant (VSB) open new therapeutic options for patients with various outer and middle ear diseases resulting in conductive or mixed hearing loss. Titanium couplers can help to couple the active middle ear implant in a standardized way to remnants of the ossicular chain or to the round window. Thus, the active middle ear implant has been established as an alternative treatment option for patients with mixed and conductive hearing. However, the heterogeneity of the studies published so far complicates the analysis of the audiometric results, and thus, the functional hearing gain after VSB implantation varies a lot.

Implantable Hearing Devices

“…Audiometric candidacy criteria include bone conduction thresholds up to 65 dB HL at 500 Hz and 85 dB HL at 6,000 Hz [29]. Uses for both children and mixed hearing loss have also been investigated [29,30,33]. Like the Otologics MET and Carina, flexibility of the internal component placement has the potential to make this device appropriate for patients with a wide range of middle ear anomalies.…”

“…The audio processor contains a microphone, speech-processing capabilities, transmitting coil, magnet, and battery [29,35]. The internal VORP is comprised of a receiver module, magnet, conductor link, and floating mass transducer (FMT).…”

“…The Vibrant Soundbridge (MED-EL, Innsbruck, Austria) is a semi-implantable hearing system that received FDA approval for use in the US in 2000 [29]. The device is approved for adults with moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss who cannot benefit from a conventional hearing aid [29][30][31][32].…”

“…The device is approved for adults with moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss who cannot benefit from a conventional hearing aid [29][30][31][32]. Audiometric candidacy criteria include bone conduction thresholds up to 65 dB HL at 500 Hz and 85 dB HL at 6,000 Hz [29].…”

A Comparative Study on Speech in Noise Understanding with a Direct Acoustic Cochlear Implant in Subjects with Severe to Profound Mixed Hearing Loss

“…Numerous reports have been published on active middle ear implants (AMEI) in case of moderate MHL [Baumgartner et al, 2010;Beltrame et al, 2009;Bernardeschi et al, 2011;Colletti et al, 2013;Dumon et al, 2009;Martin et al, 2009;Schwab et al, 2012]. Luers et al [2013] provided a recent overview of new coupling methods for an AMEI to the stapes structure and round window in case of conductive hearing loss or MHL. For severe MHL the outcome with AMEI remains variable [Verhaegen et al, 2012].…”