Long-Term Outcomes of Vibroplasty Coupler Implantations to Treat Mixed/Conductive Hearing Loss

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftForschungsartikelBeigetragenBegutachtung

Beitragende

  • Thomas Zahnert - , Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohrenheilkunde (Autor:in)
  • Robert Mlynski - , Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Universität Rostock (Autor:in)
  • Hubert Löwenheim - , Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen (Autor:in)
  • Dirk Beutner - , Universität zu Köln (Autor:in)
  • Rudolf Hagen - , Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (Autor:in)
  • Arneborg Ernst - , Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (Autor:in)
  • Thorsten Zehlicke - , Universität Rostock (Autor:in)
  • Hilke Kühne - , Technische Universität Dresden (Autor:in)
  • Natascha Friese - , Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen (Autor:in)
  • Anke Tropitzsch - , Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen (Autor:in)
  • Jan Christoffer Luers - , Universität zu Köln (Autor:in)
  • Ingo Todt - , Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (Autor:in)
  • Karl Bernd Hüttenbrink - , Universität zu Köln (Autor:in)

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the long-term safety and performance of four different vibroplasty couplers (round window, oval window, CliP and Bell coupler) in combination with an active middle ear implant. Methods: This was a multicentre, prospective, long-term study including 5 German hospitals. Thirty adult subjects suffering from conductive or mixed hearing loss were initially enrolled for the study, 24 of these were included in the final analysis with up to 36 months of postsurgical follow-up data. Bone conduction and air conduction were measured pre- and postoperatively to evalu ate safety. Postoperative aided sound field thresholds and Freiburger monosyllable word recognition scores were compared to unaided pre-implantation results to confirm performance. Additional speech tests compared postoperative unaided with aided results. To determine patient satisfaction, an established quality-of-life questionnaire developed for conventional hearing aid usage was administered to all subjects. Results: Mean postoperative bone conduction thresholds remained stable throughout the whole study period. Mean functional gain for all couplers investigated was 38.5 ± 11.4 dB HL (12 months) and 38.8 ± 12.5 dB HL (36 months). Mean word recognition scores at 65 dB SPL increased from 2.9% in the unaided by 64.2% to 67.1% in the aided situation. The mean postoperative speech reception in quiet (or 50% understanding of words in sentences) shows a speech intelligibility improvement at 36 months of 17.8 ± 12.4 dB SPL over the unaided condition. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) improved by 5.9 ± 7.2 dB SNR over the unaided condition. High subjective device satisfaction was reflected by the International Inventory for Hearing Aids scored very positively. Conclusion: A significant improvement was seen with all couplers, and audiological performance did not significantly differ between 12 and 36 months after surgery.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Seiten (von - bis)316-325
Seitenumfang10
FachzeitschriftAudiology and Neurotology
Jahrgang23
Ausgabenummer6
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 1 März 2019
Peer-Review-StatusJa

Externe IDs

PubMed 30650421
ORCID /0000-0003-3894-1175/work/148603859

Schlagworte

Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung

Schlagwörter

  • Conductive hearing loss, Couplers, Middle ear implant, Mixed hearing loss, Vibrant Soundbridge, Vibroplasty