Electric-acoustic stimulation of the auditory system. New technology for severe hearing loss.
Various devices have been developed to overcome the widespread phenomenon of different degrees of hearing deficits between mild and profound hearing loss. Basically, we differentiate between acoustic stimulation (hearing aids), restricted to cases with a partially functioning cochlear receptor, and electrical stimulation (cochlear implants), stimulating the auditory nerve directly in cases with profound or total hearing loss. For the first time, animal data have been collected that indicate the possibility of nearly interference-free use of both stimulation types simultaneously. In addition, we have gathered the first clinical patient experience, which confirms the encouraging results. Future implications for patients with severe high-frequency hearing loss are discussed.
von Ilberg
C
C
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
Kiefer
J
J
Tillein
J
J
Pfenningdorff
T
T
Hartmann
R
R
Stürzebecher
E
E
Klinke
R
R
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D002415:Cats; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D003056:Cochlear Nerve / Q000502:physiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011300:Preoperative Care; D017755:Prosthesis Fitting; D011897:Random Allocation; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology