title: Functional gain and speech understanding obtained by Vibrant Soundbridge or by open-fit hearing aid.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  There is no significant difference in speech recognition scores obtained with the Vibrant Soundbridge and the open-fit hearing aid. However, the Vibrant Soundbridge may be superior to open-fit hearing aids in improving hearing at high frequencies (4-8 kHz).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess whether an improvement in speech recognition conferred by Vibrant Soundbridge is more marked than that afforded by open-fit hearing aids in patients with sloping high frequency sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL).
  
  
  METHODS
  This study had a self-control prospective design. Seven patients aged 21-62 years with sloping high frequency SNHL were recruited into the study. Each patient received a Vibrant Soundbridge middle ear implant (Vibrant MED-EL) and wore an open-fit hearing aid (Danavox, DOT 10). Speech recognition tests were performed according to protocols suggested by árpád Götze's speech definition test in Hungarian language. In the first session, conventional hearing thresholds (unaided pure tone thresholds) were measured. In the second session, the aided sound-field threshold, speech understanding score and functional gain obtained using middle ear implants and open-fit hearing aids were determined after programming of the devices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regarding speech recognition scores, there were no significant differences between data obtained with the middle ear implant and those with the open-fit hearing aid.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, University of Debrecen, Hungary.
authors.forename: István
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sziklai
authors.forename: Judit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szilvássy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006312:Hearing Loss, Bilateral / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D006316:Hearing Loss, High-Frequency / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D008875:Middle Aged; D009998:Ossicular Prosthesis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013067:Speech Perception; D055815:Young Adult