Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2018 Dec;61(12):705-709. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2018.00374.

A Case of Middle Ear Implantation Using the Vibrant Soundbridge in a Patient with Bilateral Mixed Hearing Loss

• Shin YG
• Gu JW
• Kang JW
• Song MH

• KMID: 2430852
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2018.00374

Abstract

It is challenging to achieve sufficient hearing gain in patients with mixed hearing loss. In chronic middle ear diseases, conventional passive reconstructive surgeries often result in suboptimal hearing gain and additional hearing aids may have limitations due to insufficient sound amplification, occlusion effect, acoustic feedback, and skin irritation. Middle ear implantation (MEI) using Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) is another option for auditory rehabilitation in mixed hearing loss as well as sensorineural hearing loss. The floating mass transducer of VSB can be placed on various middle ear structures either directly or using different types of couplers in order to deliver vibratory mechanical energy to the cochlea. We report a patient who presented with bilateral mixed hearing loss due to chronic otitis media and had limitations using conventional hearing aids in the worse hearing ear. The patient was successfully treated with MEI using the Bell coupler together with middle ear surgery in a single step.

Keyword

Bell-coupler; Middle ear implant; Mixed hearing loss; Vibrant Soundbridge; Vibroplasty

MeSH Terms

Acoustics
Cochlea
Ear
Ear, Middle*
Hearing
Hearing Aids
Hearing Loss, Mixed Conductive-Sensorineural*
Hearing Loss, Sensorineural
Humans
Ossicular Prosthesis*
Otitis Media
Rehabilitation
Skin
Transducers