ABSTRACT
Due to the remarkable development in the field of hearing implantation, almost all kinds of hearing loss can be successfully rehabilitated. The first Hungarian Codacs™ (Cochlear's direct acoustic cochlear stimulator; Cochlear, Sydney, Australia) implantation was performed at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head-Neck Surgery, Clinical Centre, University of Pécs. This electromechanical middle-ear implant can be offered for patients with bilateral, severe to profound, mixed-type hearing loss. In our case, a 67-year-old male patient with bilateral advanced otosclerosis was implanted, which led to significant improvement of the hearing threshold and speech reception. Orv Hetil. 2020; 161(24): 1015-1019.
Subject(s)
Cochlear Implantation/methods , Cochlear Implants , Otologic Surgical Procedures , Otosclerosis/surgery , Acoustics , Aged , Australia , Humans , Hungary , Male , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Bone-anchored hearing aids are well-established solutions for treatment of hearing-impaired patients. However, classical systems with percutaneous abutments have disadvantages concerning aesthetics, hygiene and adverse soft tissue reactions. The study aimed to evaluate surgical, functional and audiological results of a new Baha(®) Attract system, in which the sound processor is attached by magnetic force. Twenty patients implanted with a Baha(®) Attract system were divided into two groups: A-bilateral mixed and conductive hearing loss, B-single-sided deafness, and evaluated during a 6-month follow-up. Parameters analysed comprised: (1) surgery and wound healing, (2) postoperative functional results (GBI, APHAB and BAHU questionnaires), (3) audiological results (free field speech in noise audiometry in two situations: with signal from implant side and from contralateral side). Obtained results revealed: mean time of surgery-44 min, soft tissue reduction-30 %, bone polishing-20 %, haematoma-10 %. Functional results showed: GBI total score-29.6 points, APHAB global score mean gain-23.5 %, BAHU 'good or very good' score for: aesthetic-85 %, hygiene-100 %, ease of placing the processor-100 %, stability of attraction-75 %. Audiological results-mean gain for the two analysed situations: 32.9 % (group A-36.5 %, group B-27.5 %). To conclude, the data obtained prove the safety and effectiveness of the Baha(®) Attract system in patients with conductive and mixed hearing loss as well as in patients with single-sided deafness. Cosmetic aspects are highly acceptable and the idea of Attract itself is important for patients with limited manual dexterity.