title: Middle ear implants: functional gain in mixed hearing loss.
abstract: Osseous atresia and chronic otitis media are diseases benefit with middle ear implants. Surgery for atresia is technically complicated, has significant number of complications and functional results are often poor. The osseointegrated hearing aids are an alternative. They provide a very good functional gain, but have many problems with the skin and osseointegration. In chronic otitis media, the ossiculoplasty solved partially the hearing problem. Unfortunately in some cases of otitis media and in open cavities fitted with conventional hearing aids the gain is unsatisfactory.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the usefulness of an active middle ear implant.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal Study. Vibrant-Soundbrigde was implanted in eight patients with severe mixed hearing loss. Four patients had chronic otitis media and four had unilateral atresia. The placement of the stimulator (FMT or Floating Mass Transducer) was in five patients on round window, two in stapes and one in the oval window.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Functional gain was 35 dB, 40 dB, 48.7 dB and 50 dB for the frequencies 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vibrant-Soundbrigde is an excellent option in hearing recovery in severe and profound mixed hearing loss. It also provides an excellent functional gain in diseases difficult to treat with conventional hearing aids.
authors.affiliation: Tertiary Medical Center, ENT Department, Independencia St., 5000 Cordoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Mario Emilio
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Zernotti
authors.forename: Maria Fernanda Di
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Gregorio
authors.forename: Andrea C Bravo
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Sarasty
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D005260:Female; D046089:Hearing Loss, Mixed Conductive-Sensorineural / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009998:Ossicular Prosthesis; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000150:complications; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult