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

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Thomas Zahnert - , Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery (Author)
  • Robert Mlynski - , University of Würzburg, University of Rostock (Author)
  • Hubert Löwenheim - , University of Tübingen (Author)
  • Dirk Beutner - , University of Cologne (Author)
  • Rudolf Hagen - , University of Würzburg (Author)
  • Arneborg Ernst - , Humboldt University of Berlin (Author)
  • Thorsten Zehlicke - , University of Rostock (Author)
  • Hilke Kühne - , TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Natascha Friese - , University of Tübingen (Author)
  • Anke Tropitzsch - , University of Tübingen (Author)
  • Jan Christoffer Luers - , University of Cologne (Author)
  • Ingo Todt - , Humboldt University of Berlin (Author)
  • Karl Bernd Hüttenbrink - , University of Cologne (Author)

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

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)316-325
Number of pages10
JournalAudiology and Neurotology
Volume23
Issue number6
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2019
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

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

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

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