title: A case of the vibrant soundbridge stapes coupler in patients with mixed hearing loss.
abstract: The Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) with stapes clip coupler placement at the stapes head has been used successfully to treat mixed hearing loss. Coupling between the floating mass transducer of the VSB and the stapes head is technically less demanding than incus vibroplasty and is more likely to generate a positive outcome without significantly changing residual hearing or resulting in medical or surgical complications. A 65-year-old man with bilateral mixed hearing loss and chronic otitis media underwent vibroplasty with a stapes clip coupler. Speech discrimination scores in both quiet and noise environments showed better functional gain with the VSB than with the use of a conventional hearing aid. The results of the present case show the feasibility of implanting a VSB with a stapes coupler in patients with mixed hearing loss due to chronic otitis media.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ah Young
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Ju Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: In Seok
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Choi
keywords: Hearing loss; Middle ear; Rehabilitation; Stapes