Article
Mixed hearing loss after explosion trauma – rehabilitation of hearing with Vibrant Soundbridge by coupling the FMT to the oval window via cartilage-perichondrium flap
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Published: | July 22, 2009 |
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Introduction: explosion trauma combined with subsequent hearing loss constitutes a major problem of rehabilitation of hearing. Lately the supply with the Vibrant Soundbridge (VS) and its direct stimulation of the inner ear is a possibility of hearing improvement for such patients.
Methods: We report on a 53 year old soldier with state past explosion trauma several years ago. Despite repeated attempts to improve hearing with miscellaneous middle ear prostheses no satisfactory result was attained, the supply of conventional hearing aids provided no improvement in receptive language in the Freiburg speech test.
The patient was then supplied with the Vibrant Soundbridge, whith the FMT coupled to the oval window via a cartilage-perichondrium flap.
Results: The postoperative results showed a subjective satisfaction of the patient. The free-field audiometry after implantation, showed in the Freiburg speech test a receptive language score of 0% at 60 dB hearing in noise without VS, connected with VS of 85%.
Conclusion: A mixed hearing loss can be treated with Vibrant Soundbridge, thereby it seems that the implantation of the FMT to the oval window is an efficient form of coupling.