Ten years of active middle ear implantation for sensorineural hearing loss

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate long-term benefits of a totally implantable active middle ear implant (AMEI) that has been used in a single implanting center for over 10 years.

Methods: Forty-one subjects who underwent implantation with an Esteem^® AMEI during a 10-years period were evaluated on the auditory benefits, as derived from pure tone and speech audiometry tests. The analysis included a comparison with a conventional hearing aid, the problematics related to the battery duration and surgical replacement and, finally, the complication rate.

Results: Over 80% of the implanted subjects maintained over time a satisfactory auditory gain, ranging from 10 to over 30 dB in respect to the unaided situation, as mean at 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 kHz. In more than 60% of them, an improvement has also been found at 4 and 8 kHz. Battery duration varied according to the severity of the hearing loss and to the daily use of the device. No major post-operative complications were recorded, whilst explantation was necessary in five subjects, although none for device failure.

Conclusions: The Esteem^® can be considered a reliable device for rehabilitation of sensorineural hearing loss in alternative to conventional hearing aids.

Chinese abstract

目的：评估在单个植入中心已经使用十多年的完全植入式活性中耳植入物（AMEI）的长期效应。

方法：对在10年期间接受Esteem®AMEI植入治疗的41位受试者进行了纯音和语音听力测试的听力效果评估。该分析包括与传统助听器的比较、与电池持续时间和手术更换有关的问题以及并发症发生率。

结果：随着时间的推移, 超过80%的接受植入的受试者保持令人满意的听觉增益, 相对于无辅助的状况, 听力增益为10至30分贝以上, 均值为0.5,1,2和4kHz。其中超过60%的人在4 kHz和8 kHz时也有所改善。电池持续时间根据听力损失的严重程度以及设备的日常使用情况而变化。没有大的术后并发症的记录, 虽然有必要对五个受试者进行解释, 但没有植入物故障发生。

结论：Esteem®可以被认为是替代传统助听器的可靠的感觉神经性听力损失恢复装置。

Keywords:

• Pure tone audiometry
• speech audiometry
• active middle ear implant
• fully implantable hearing device

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Eng. Daniele Ferrante for helping with the statistical analysis of the presented data.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.