Outcome of Vibrant Soundbridge Middle Ear Implant in Cantonese-Speaking Mixed Hearing Loss Adults

ObjectivesTo investigate the aided benefits, speech recognition in quiet and in noise, change in hearing and subjective report of satisfaction on mixed hearing loss adults implanted with Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) middle ear implant.MethodsEight Cantonese speaking adult patients with mixed hearing lo...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Joannie Ka Yin Yu, Willis Sung Shan Tsang, Terence Ka Cheong Wong, Michael Chi Fai Tong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Korean Society of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 2012-04-01
Series:Clinical and Experimental Otorhinolaryngology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.e-ceo.org/upload/pdf/ceo-5-S82.pdf
Description
Summary:ObjectivesTo investigate the aided benefits, speech recognition in quiet and in noise, change in hearing and subjective report of satisfaction on mixed hearing loss adults implanted with Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) middle ear implant.MethodsEight Cantonese speaking adult patients with mixed hearing loss were enrolled in a single-subject, repeated measures prospective study design. Audiometric testing, including air and bone conduction and word recognition under sound-field were conducted before surgery. Device activation was arranged 8 weeks after operation. Audiometric testing was taken to evaluate the change in hearing. Patients were asked to wear the device and come back for fine tuning as needed. Outcome measurements were undertaken at 3 and 6 months after device activation. The outcome measures included sound-field thresholds, Cantonese Hearing in Noise Test (CHINT), Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB) and International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids (IOI-HA).ResultsThe application of the VSB improved the aided thresholds and improved speech intelligibility in quiet and noise without significant changes in hearing thresholds.ConclusionVSB is considered as a safe, effective and reliable auditory rehabilitation option for Cantonese speaking adults with mixed hearing loss.
ISSN:1976-8710
2005-0720