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Are today’s implantable hearing devices better than conventional devices for patients with conductive or mixed hearing loss? Introduction In March 2014, we published a paper in ENT & Audiology news, with the same title. The present overview should be considered as an update. Since 2014, several new implantable hearing devices have been introduced, existing device types have been further developed and, unfortunately, some devices have been withdrawn from the market. Below, an overview is Read more [...]

Introduction To rehabilitate patients with mixed hearing loss, implantable devices like the Vibrant Soundbridge middle ear implant (VSB) or percutaneous bone conductors (BCDs) have been applied. Such implantable devices become the next option whenever conventional hearing devices (e.g. behind-the-ear device) or reconstructive surgery are not possible or probably not effective (e.g. in case of aural atresia or chronic draining ears). Using recent publications, describing clinical trails, a comparison Read more [...]

If reconstructive surgery is not an option, several amplification options are available for patients with conductive or mixed hearing loss. These options (hearing devices, implantable or not) are not equivalents. To find the best device for a patient, the manufacturer’s brochures are often of limited help. A comparison between devices is needed and that is the aim of this blog. Second aim is to give an overview of basic knowledge in this field. To choose for a device, the output capacity is of Read more [...]

2. Amplification options for conductive and mixed hearing loss; an introduction  2.1 Introduction Nowadays, for patients with conductive hearing loss or mixed hearing loss, who need amplification, commonly used options are: 1. conventional acoustic behind-the-ear devices (BTE) or in-the-ear devices, 2. (semi-implantable) bone-conduction devices (BCD) and 3. active middle ear implants with their actuator coupled to one of the cochlear windows; these implantable devices have been described in detail Read more [...]

3. Basic considerations; the effect of low MPO on gain What is the effect of a relatively low MPO? Figure 3.1 shows the audiogram of a patient with conductive hearing loss. Cochlear thresholds and LDLs, according to Dillon and Storey (1998), are indicated in Figure 3.1B.      Figure 3.1. Figure A ( upper left) shows the audiogram; figure B (upper, right) present the cochlear thresholds and the LDLs (Dillon & Storey, 1998). Figure C (lower figure) shows the MPO values (labelled with ‘S’) Read more [...]

4. Longevity and a new fitting model  4.1 Introduction An attempt is made to develop a fitting model based on an acceptable partial use of the dynamic range of hearing. Audibility of normal conversational speech, with its 30 dB wide speech range, is an important factor in that model. A new goal has been formulated: at least 35 dB of the dynamic range of hearing should be accessible with a device; that means that with proper amplification conversational speech is audible (Zwartenkot et al., 2014 Read more [...]

5. Comparison of interventions in certain groups of patients 5.1. Congenital middle ear and outer ear anomalies 5.1.1. Surgical repair or amplification? When counselling patients with hearing loss caused by congenital ear anomalies (like aural atresia), firstly, reconstructive surgery should be considered. Congenital ear anomalies might vary from mild (middle ear anomalies) to severe (atresia of the ear canal) with an associated air-bone gap from 40 to 65 dB. Amongst otologists, reconstructive surgery Read more [...]

6. Bilateral application should always be considered 6.1 Introduction Bilateral hearing refers to hearing with two ears. When listening with two ears instead of one, at least four advantages can be distinguished: 1) loudness summation, 2) use of acoustic head shadow to hear better in noisy places, 3) directional hearing and 4) binaural squelch. In normal hearing listeners binaural hearing is obvious, based on accurate processing of the bilateral inputs, leading to a ‘fused’ percept (binaural Read more [...]