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Vibrant Semi-implantable Hearing Device With Digital Sound Processing
Effective Gain and Speech Perception
Ad F. M. Snik, PhD;
Cor W. R. J. Cremers, MD, PhD
Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2001;127:1433-1437.
Background The Vibrant Soundbridge (Symphonix Devices, San Jose, Calif) is a semi-implantable
hearing device. The transducer is attached directly to the incus and is linked
by telemetry to the externally worn audioprocessor. A major advantage of this
semi-implantable setup, especially during its experimental phase, is that
the audioprocessor can be updated. Recently, we replaced the previous 2-channel
analog audioprocessor in 14 patients with a 3-channel digital device.
Design Prospective clinical study. Basic functions were measured, including
gain as a function of input level and speech perception in quiet.
Patients Patients (n = 14) had moderate to severe sensorineural hearing impairment
(average hearing threshold at 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 kHz of 40- to 76-dB hearing
level [HL]) and chronic external otitis, which contraindicated use of an ear
mold.
Results Gain of the 3-channel audioprocessor for comfortable listening levels
and for conversational levels varied from approximately 15- to 30-dB HL, suggesting
that the device is suitable for patients with hearing loss of up to 60- to
70-dB HL. In 5 patients, identical measurements were performed using their
conventional hearing aids. The other 9 patients did not use a conventional
hearing device because of severe external otitis. On average, results obtained
with the Vibrant Soundbridge were not as good as those obtained with the conventional
device. Nevertheless, patients were satisfied with the Vibrant Soundbridge
because they could use it all day without pain or itching.
Conclusions The Vibrant Soundbridge is suitable for patients with hearing loss of
up to 70-dB HL. Compared with conventional devices, in audiometric terms,
a surplus value of the Vibrant Soundbridge was not found.
From the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Nijmegen,
Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
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