title: [Direct Drive Simulation - Sound-Simulation of the Vibrant Soundbridge®].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Direct-Drive-Simulation (DDS) tends to simulate the sound quality of hearing with the active middle ear implant Vibrant Soundbridge(®) (VSB). Up to now a scientific evaluation of the validity is missing. Furthermore, the test procedure has not been described yet. Aim of this study was to evaluate the test validity and to describe the test realization in detail.
  
  
  METHODS
  10 patients evaluated their sound impression on scales from 1 to 10 concerning sound quality during DDS, postoperative free field testing at least 3 month after the first fitting of the VSB and in the everyday life situation. 3 patients were implanted bilaterally. Together, 36 data sets could be analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Coupling of the Floating Mass Transducer (FMT), which was placed inside of a silicone probe during DDS was successful in all cases. In 11 out of 13 cases the coupling quality was judged as "good" an only in 2 cases as "medium". None of the patients needed local anesthesia. Comparing the evaluation of the sound impression during DDS preoperatively, and with the implanted VSB in free field testing and in everyday life no significant differences were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The DDS offers the possibility of a realistic preoperative sound simulation of the "VSB-hearing" in case of sensorineural hearing loss. Thus, the test is supposed to facilitate the patient's decision towards possible treatment options. The specialist gets additional information regarding the indication especially when audiologic indication criteria are critical. The DDS should be a basic part of the preoperative diagnostic prior to VSB-implantation.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenkrankheiten, plastische und ästhetische Operationen, Direktor: Prof. Dr. med. Dr. h.c. R. Hagen, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Würzburg.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaulitz
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenkrankheiten, plastische und ästhetische Operationen, Direktor: Prof. Dr. med. Dr. h.c. R. Hagen, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Würzburg.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Großmann
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenkrankheiten, plastische und ästhetische Operationen, Direktor: Prof. Dr. med. Dr. h.c. R. Hagen, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Würzburg.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Steinbach
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenkrankheiten, plastische und ästhetische Operationen, Direktor: Prof. Dr. med. Dr. h.c. R. Hagen, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Würzburg.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hackenberg
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenkrankheiten, plastische und ästhetische Operationen, Direktor: Prof. Dr. med. Dr. h.c. R. Hagen, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Würzburg.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kraus
authors.affiliation: Fachabteilung HNO, DIAKO Bremen, Bremen.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Köhler
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-, Nasen-, Ohrenheilkunde, Universitätsmedizin Rostock, Rostock.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mlynski
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenkrankheiten, plastische und ästhetische Operationen, Direktor: Prof. Dr. med. Dr. h.c. R. Hagen, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Würzburg.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Radeloff
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenkrankheiten, plastische und ästhetische Operationen, Direktor: Prof. Dr. med. Dr. h.c. R. Hagen, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Würzburg.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rak
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenkrankheiten, plastische und ästhetische Operationen, Direktor: Prof. Dr. med. Dr. h.c. R. Hagen, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Würzburg.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Schraven
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenkrankheiten, plastische und ästhetische Operationen, Direktor: Prof. Dr. med. Dr. h.c. R. Hagen, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Würzburg.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hagen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016250:Compact Disks; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008144:Loudness Perception; D055539:MP3-Player; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009146:Music; D009998:Ossicular Prosthesis; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013018:Sound Spectrography / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013067:Speech Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014159:Transducers; D014833:Voice Quality; D055815:Young Adult