title: Benefit of the Vibrant Soundbridge device in patients implanted for 5 to 8 years.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess audiological performance, satisfaction rate, and side effects of 100 patients who have been using the middle ear implant Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) for 5 to 8 yr when compared with data collected from 3 to 18 mo postsurgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Audiological testing and subjective evaluation using self-assessment scales were performed in 77 out of the 100 patients using the VSB for 5 to 8 years. The results were compared to data collected 3 months (audiological testing) and 18 months (self-assessment scales) after surgery. Twenty-three patients have not been evaluated for different reported reasons.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pure-tone hearing thresholds decreased similarly in both implanted and contralateral ears. The satisfaction ratings and the functional gain provided by the VSB remained stable. Speech comprehension in quiet conditions without the VSB decreased from 56 to 37% in 5 to 8 yr, but an 81% score was achieved with the VSB.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that the performance of the VSB does not deteriorate for more than 5 yr, without adverse effect. These results confirm the safety and the effectiveness of the VSB with a long-term follow-up.
authors.affiliation: AP-HP, Hôpital Beaujon, Service d'ORL, Clichy, France. isabelle.mosnier@lmr.aphp.fr
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mosnier
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sterkers
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bouccara
authors.forename: Samia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Labassi
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bebear
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bordure
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dubreuil
authors.forename: Thibaud
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dumon
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Frachet
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fraysse
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lavieille
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Magnan
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mondain
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Portmann
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Robier
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schmerber
authors.forename: Jean-Marc
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Thomassin
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Truy
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uziel
authors.forename: François-Michel
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Vanecloo
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vincent
authors.forename: Evelyne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ferrary
mesh_terms: D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003638:Deafness / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D012086:Reoperation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013016:Sound; D014732:Vibration