CONCLUSIONS: The results support bilateral sequential implantation for patients who are not completely satisfied after implantation of one side. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the benefit of bilateral Vibrant Soundbridge middle ear implantation as compared with unilateral implantation in quiet and noisy environments. METHODS: This was a multicentric and retrospective study of 15 patients with symmetrical sensorineural hearing loss who were implanted sequentially in both ears. The performance of each subject was compared under three conditions: with the right implant activated, with the left implant activated, and with both implants activated. Audiometric tests were compared with self-assessment subjective evaluation by questionnaire. RESULTS: Both qualitative and quantitative assessments demonstrated improvement in speech intelligibility, especially in background noise, but also for low voice intensity in quiet.
CONCLUSIONS: The results support bilateral sequential implantation for patients who are not completely satisfied after implantation of one side. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the benefit of bilateral Vibrant Soundbridge middle ear implantation as compared with unilateral implantation in quiet and noisy environments. METHODS: This was a multicentric and retrospective study of 15 patients with symmetrical sensorineural hearing loss who were implanted sequentially in both ears. The performance of each subject was compared under three conditions: with the right implant activated, with the left implant activated, and with both implants activated. Audiometric tests were compared with self-assessment subjective evaluation by questionnaire. RESULTS: Both qualitative and quantitative assessments demonstrated improvement in speech intelligibility, especially in background noise, but also for low voice intensity in quiet.
Authors: Astrid Wolf-Magele; Viktor Koci; Johannes Schnabl; Patrick Zorowka; Herbert Riechelmann; Georg Mathias Sprinzl Journal: Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol Date: 2015-09-19 Impact factor: 2.503