Otologics Middle Ear Transducer With Contralateral Conventional Hearing Aid in Severe Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Abstract

To report the audiometric outcomes of patients with severe sensorineural hearing loss and who have been fitted with a Middle Ear Transducer (MET) on one side and fitted with an optimized conventional hearing aid on the other side. The MET fitting results were measured and compared with contralateral conventional hearing aids in a prospective study. Tertiary referral center. Seven patients (ages, 53-77 yr) with severe sensorineural hearing loss (pure-tone average, 71-90 dB HL) were implanted between December 2004 and March 2006. Audiometric testing was performed the day of activation (2 mo postoperative) and after 8 days and 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 months. For each follow-up, MET and conventional hearing aid were optimized according to the patient's hearing loss. Mean functional gains were 29 dB for conventional hearing aid and 35 dB the first day of the study with the MET and 39 dB after 6 months. The performance of the MET and the absence of occlusion of the external auditory canal could explain the improved benefit. For maximum gain, the MET requires a regular follow-up during the first 6 months. MET seems to be a suitable and successful treatment option resulting in significant improvement in speech comprehension, especially after 6 months, in patients with severe sensorineural hearing loss. During the 24-month follow-up of this study, the MET has been a safe and effective treatment for severe hearing loss.