Active Bone Conduction Implant and Adhesive Bone Conduction Device: A Comparison of Audiological Performance and Subjective Satisfaction.

Introduction Atresia of the external auditory canal affects 1 in every 10 thousand to 20 thousand live births, with a much higher prevalence in Latin America, at 5 to 21 out of every 10 thousand newborns. The treatment involves esthetic and functional aspects. Regarding the functional treatment, there are surgical and nonsurgical alternatives like spectacle frames and rigid and softband systems. Active transcutaneous bone conduction implants (BCIs) achieve good sound transmission and directly stimulate the bone. Objective To assess the audiological performance and subjective satisfaction of children implanted with an active transcutaneous BCI for more than one year and to compare the outcomes with a nonsurgical adhesive bone conduction device (aBCD) in the same users. Methods The present is a prospective, multicentric study. The audiological performance was evaluated at 1, 6, and 12 months postactivation, and after a 1-month trial with the nonsurgical device. Results Ten patients completed all tests. The 4-frequency pure-tone average (4PTA) in the unaided condition was of 65 dB HL, which improved significantly to 20 dB HL after using the BCI for 12 months. The speech recognition in quiet in the unaided condition was of 33% on average, which improved significantly, to 99% with the BCI, and to 91% with the aBCD. Conclusion The aBCD demonstrated sufficient hearing improvement and subjective satisfaction; thus, it is a good solution for hearing rehabilitation if surgery is not desired or not possible. If surgery is an option, the BCI is the superior device in terms of hearing outcomes, particularly background noise and subjective satisfaction.

Active Bone Conduction Implant and Adhesive Bone Conduction Device: A Comparison of Audiological Performance and Subjective Satisfaction

Abstract Introduction Atresia of the external auditory canal affects 1 in every 10 thousand to 20 thousand live births, with a much higher prevalence in Latin America, at 5 to 21 out of every 10 thousand newborns. The treatment involves esthetic and functional aspects. Regarding the functional treatment, there are surgical and nonsurgical alternatives like spectacle frames and rigid and softband systems. Active transcutaneous bone conduction implants (BCIs) achieve good sound transmission and directly stimulate the bone. Objective To assess the audiological performance and subjective satisfaction of children implanted with an active transcutaneous BCI for more than one year and to compare the outcomes with a nonsurgical adhesive bone conduction device (aBCD) in the same users. Methods The present is a prospective, multicentric study. The audiological performance was evaluated at 1, 6, and 12 months postactivation, and after a 1-month trial with the nonsurgical device. Results Ten patients completed all tests. The 4-frequency pure-tone average (4PTA) in the unaided condition was of 65 dB HL, which improved significantly to 20 dB HL after using the BCI for 12 months. The speech recognition in quiet in the unaided condition was of 33% on average, which improved significantly, to 99% with the BCI, and to 91% with the aBCD. Conclusion The aBCD demonstrated sufficient hearing improvement and subjective satisfaction; thus, it is a good solution for hearing rehabilitation if surgery is not desired or not possible. If surgery is an option, the BCI is the superior device in terms of hearing outcomes, particularly background noise and subjective satisfaction.

Congenital Aural Atresia prevalence in the Argentinian population.

INTRODUCTION: Congenital Aural Atresia (CAA) or microtia is a malformation that results in esthetic and functional problems. There is little information on prevalence, considering that Latin American is the most affected region in the world. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of microtia, considering the different ethnical structure of the population. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed of the clinical reports of newborn infants (public hospitals) in three different regions. RESULTS: The incidence of CAA in Argentina was 1 case per 7500 new births (i.e. 1.3/10,000). Marked differences were found per geographical area. The means were calculated per year by bilateral parametric estimation, according to the ethnical origins of the population. In the Caucasoid area: 02.47/10,000 (±1.2), in the Mestizo area: 03.99/10,000 (±0.0) and finally in the Amerindian area: 20.93/10,000 (±0.1). CONCLUSION: This study shows different incidences according to the demographic features of the population from 1.90/10,000 to 20.9/10,000. This data indicates that CAA is associated with a genetic problem (ethnic differences).

Vibrant Soundbridge in congenital osseous atresia: multicenter study of 12 patients with osseous atresia.

CONCLUSION: The study suggests that the Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) middle ear implant could be a valid alternative for patients with congenital aural atresia to compensate for their hearing loss. OBJECTIVE: To determine the audiologic benefit the VSB provides in patients with congenital aural atresia. METHODS: Twelve patients with congenital aural atresia were implanted with VSB: eight patients were unilaterally atretic (67%) and 4 (33%) were bilaterally atretic. In five cases the implant was placed onto the round window, in another five cases the implant was placed on the stapes, in only one case a prosthesis (coupler) was used to fix the implant into the oval window, and in one case a fenestration on the cochlear endostium was performed. RESULTS: The mean functional gain obtained for all patients evaluated was 62 dB at 0.5 kHz, 60 dB at 1 kHz, 48.3 dB at 2 kHz, and 50.8 dB at 4 kHz. The mean functional gain for all frequencies evaluated was 55.1 dB.

Comparison of complications by technique used in cochlear implants.

INTRODUCTION: Complications are a very sensitive indicator of the usefulness of a surgical technique. In cochlear implant surgery, there are 3 principal approaches: the classic approach uses the facial recess (FR), the suprameatal approach (SMA) does not require mastoidectomy and uses the creation of a tunnel over the facial nerve to enter the middle ear, and the endomeatal approach (EMA) is based on the completion of a groove in the posterior wall of external auditory canal. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A multicentre review of 208 patients with cochlear implants, comparing the different techniques. The complications were classified into major and minor. RESULTS: Among the 208 implanted patients, 10.5% (22 of 208) had complications. Of these, 2.88% (6 of 208) were major complications and 7.69% (16 of 208) were minor complications. Comparing the results obtained by the different approaches, the FR technique had the lowest rate of major complications (1.1%), followed by the EMA technique with 2.38% and SMA with 3.75%. As for minor complications, operations in the SMA group had the lowest rate (6.25%), followed by the EMA group (7.14%) and the group operated on using the FR technique presented the highest (10%). CONCLUSIONS: The 3 techniques described show very similar rates of complications. Consequently, we can conclude that they are safe and are alternatives.

Prótese implantável do ouvido médio: ganho funcional em perda auditiva mista / Middle ear implants: functional gain in mixed hearing loss

Atresia óssea e otite média crônica são os principais grupos de beneficiários com implantes do ouvido médio. Cirurgia de atresia é tecnicamente complexo, tem muitas complicações e resultados funcionais pobres. Os aparelhos auditivos osseointegrados são uma alternativa. Eles fornecem um ganho funcional muito bom, mas tem muitos problemas de pele e osseointegração. Na otite média crônica, ossiculoplastias resolveram parcialmente o problema de audição. Infelizmente, em alguns casos de otites média e cavidades abertas, equipamentos com aparelhos auditivos convencionais são difíceis e muitas vezes insatisfatórios. OBJETIVO: Determinar a utilidade de um implante do ouvido médio. Desenho de estudo longitudinal. MÉTODOS: Vibrant-Soundbrigde foi implantado em oito pacientes com perda auditiva mista grave. Quatro apresentavam otite média crônica e quatro apresentavam atresia unilateral. A colocação do estimulador (FMT ou Floating Mass Transducer) foi em cinco pacientes na janela redonda, dois no estribo e um na janela oval. RESULTADOS: Ganho funcional foi de 35 dB, 40 dB, 48,7 dB e 50 dB para as frequências de 500, 1000, 2000 e 4000 Hz, respectivamente. CONCLUSÃO: Vibrant-Soundbrigde é uma excelente opção no restabelecimento da audição em perda auditiva mista grave e profunda. Ele fornece um excelente ganho funcional em doenças de difícil tratamento com equipamentos convencionais.

Osseous atresia and chronic otitis media are diseases benefit with middle ear implants. Surgery for atresia is technically complicated, has significant number of complications and functional results are often poor. The osseointegrated hearing aids are an alternative. They provide a very good functional gain, but have many problems with the skin and osseointegration. In chronic otitis media, the ossiculoplasty solved partially the hearing problem. Unfortunately in some cases of otitis media and in open cavities fitted with conventional hearing aids the gain is unsatisfactory. AIM: To determine the usefulness of an active middle ear implant. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Longitudinal Study. Vibrant- Soundbrigde was implanted in eight patients with severe mixed hearing loss. Four patients had chronic otitis media and four had unilateral atresia. The placement of the stimulator (FMT or Floating Mass Transducer) was in five patients on round window, two in stapes and one in the oval window. RESULTS: Functional gain was 35 dB, 40 dB, 48.7 dB and 50 dB for the frequencies 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz, respectively. CONCLUSION: Vibrant-Soundbrigde is an excellent option in hearing recovery in severe and profound mixed hearing loss. It also provides an excellent functional gain in diseases difficult to treat with conventional hearing aids.