Ten years of active middle ear implantation for sensorineural hearing loss.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate long-term benefits of a totally implantable active middle ear implant (AMEI) that has been used in a single implanting center for over 10 years.

METHODS: Forty-one subjects who underwent implantation with an Esteem® AMEI during a 10-years period were evaluated on the auditory benefits, as derived from pure tone and speech audiometry tests. The analysis included a comparison with a conventional hearing aid, the problematics related to the battery duration and surgical replacement and, finally, the complication rate.

RESULTS: Over 80% of the implanted subjects maintained over time a satisfactory auditory gain, ranging from 10 to over 30 dB in respect to the unaided situation, as mean at 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 kHz. In more than 60% of them, an improvement has also been found at 4 and 8 kHz. Battery duration varied according to the severity of the hearing loss and to the daily use of the device. No major post-operative complications were recorded, whilst explantation was necessary in five subjects, although none for device failure.

CONCLUSIONS: The Esteem® can be considered a reliable device for rehabilitation of sensorineural hearing loss in alternative to conventional hearing aids.