Korean J Audiol.  2014 Sep;18(2):93-96. 10.7874/kja.2014.18.2.93.

A Case of the Vibrant Soundbridge Stapes Coupler in Patients with Mixed Hearing Loss

• Park AY
• Jeon JH
• Moon IS
• Choi JY

• KMID: 1801963
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7874/kja.2014.18.2.93

Abstract

The Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) with stapes clip coupler placement at the stapes head has been used successfully to treat mixed hearing loss. Coupling between the floating mass transducer of the VSB and the stapes head is technically less demanding than incus vibroplasty and is more likely to generate a positive outcome without significantly changing residual hearing or resulting in medical or surgical complications. A 65-year-old man with bilateral mixed hearing loss and chronic otitis media underwent vibroplasty with a stapes clip coupler. Speech discrimination scores in both quiet and noise environments showed better functional gain with the VSB than with the use of a conventional hearing aid. The results of the present case show the feasibility of implanting a VSB with a stapes coupler in patients with mixed hearing loss due to chronic otitis media.

Keyword

Hearing loss; Rehabilitation; Middle ear; Stapes

MeSH Terms

Aged
Ear, Middle
Head
Hearing
Hearing Aids
Hearing Loss
Hearing Loss, Mixed Conductive-Sensorineural*
Humans
Incus
Noise
Otitis Media
Rehabilitation
Speech Perception
Stapes*
Transducers