Otologics middle ear transducer with contralateral conventional hearing aid in severe sensorineural hearing loss: evolution during the first 24 months.
OBJECTIVE
To report the audiometric outcomes of patients with severe sensorineural hearing loss and who have been fitted with a Middle Ear Transducer (MET) on one side and fitted with an optimized conventional hearing aid on the other side.


METHODS
The MET fitting results were measured and compared with contralateral conventional hearing aids in a prospective study.


METHODS
Tertiary referral center.


METHODS
Seven patients (ages, 53-77 yr) with severe sensorineural hearing loss (pure-tone average, 71-90 dB HL) were implanted between December 2004 and March 2006.


METHODS
Audiometric testing was performed the day of activation (2 mo postoperative) and after 8 days and 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 months. For each follow-up, MET and conventional hearing aid were optimized according to the patient's hearing loss.


RESULTS
Mean functional gains were 29 dB for conventional hearing aid and 35 dB the first day of the study with the MET and 39 dB after 6 months.


CONCLUSIONS
The performance of the MET and the absence of occlusion of the external auditory canal could explain the improved benefit. For maximum gain, the MET requires a regular follow-up during the first 6 months.


CONCLUSIONS
MET seems to be a suitable and successful treatment option resulting in significant improvement in speech comprehension, especially after 6 months, in patients with severe sensorineural hearing loss. During the 24-month follow-up of this study, the MET has been a safe and effective treatment for severe hearing loss.
Tringali
Stéphane
S
Hospices Civils de Lyon, Centre Hospitalier Lyon Sud, Department of Otology and Oto-neurosurgery, F-69495 Pierre-Bénite, France. stephane.tringali@chu-lyon.fr
Perrot
Xavier
X
Berger
Paul
P
Granade
Genevieve Lina
GL
Dubreuil
Christian
C
Truy
Eric
E
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000368:Aged; D001299:Audiometry; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009998:Ossicular Prosthesis; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation; D013067:Speech Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome