Consensus Statement on Bone Conduction Devices and Active Middle Ear Implants in Conductive and Mixed Hearing Loss

Abstract

Nowadays, several options are available to treat patients with conductive or mixed hearing loss. Whenever surgical intervention is not possible or contra-indicated, and amplification by a conventional hearing device (e.g., behind-the-ear device) is not feasible, then implantable hearing devices are an indispensable next option. Implantable bone-conduction devices and middle-ear implants have advantages but also limitations concerning complexity/invasiveness of the surgery, medical complications, and effectiveness. To counsel the patient, the clinician should have a good overview of the options with regard to safety and reliability as well as unequivocal technical performance data. The present consensus document is the outcome of an extensive iterative process including ENT specialists, audiologists, health-policy scientists, and representatives/technicians of the main companies in this field. This document should provide a first framework for procedures and technical characterization to enhance effective communication between these stakeholders, improving health care.

New technology can benefit established middle ear implant users: Samba 2 vs previous models of audio processors for Vibrant Soundbridge

“…When testing the relationship between speech hearing dimension in the SSQ and the result of speech tests with the new AP, a significant negative correlation was obtained for S0-N0; a smaller (also negative) but not significant correlation for S0-N180, and no correlation for WRS obtained in quiet. A similar relationship was noted by Remakers et al, who found, using SSQ, a significant (but weak to moderate) negative correlation between the subjective test results of the speech hearing dimension and the related objective speech perception in noise test [35]. In the recently published 'Consensus Statement on Bone Conduction Devices and Active Middle Ear Implants in Conductive and Mixed Hearing Loss', the authors address an important issue, noting that companies introducing new processors should enable patients with older implants to reap the benefits of new features and signal processing developments [36].…”

“…Dornhofer et al, in a group of 95 hearing aid users, correlated aided audiological measures (PTA, Nu-6, SPIN) with aided APHAB subscales and global score; they saw no significant relationship. Absent or low correlations between patient self-reported scores and speech recognition have also been reported among cochlear implant users [33][34][35]. Mertens et al reported that self-assessment tools, like SSQ, offer insights into dynamic hearing capacities that cannot be easily measured in the laboratory and provide useful information about the hearing status of CI users [33].…”

Implantable hearing devices in clinical practice. Systematic review and consensus statements

“…Along with their development, audiologists and otologists have sought and experimented with new applications for these implantable devices. Currently, however, there is no universal agreement in the scientific literature 1 . Congresses, meetings, conferences, and consensus statements have been organised internationally to achieve this goal.…”

“…It provides a first framework for clinical, surgical, and audiological procedures on implantable devices. The aim was to deliver a technical characterisation of these devices to enhance effective communication between the various stakeholders, and thus improve health care 1 . The consensus underlines that the scientific literature does not lead to comprehensive results for these devices.…”

Speech perception and parameters of speech audiometry after hearing aid: Systematic review and meta-analysis

“…In individuals with unilateral hearing loss, including SNHL, mixed hearing loss, and CHL types, bone conduction devices (BCDs) have been employed as effective tools for hearing rehabilitation [16,17]. When conventional BCD was first created in the early 20 th century, it was transcutaneous [18].…”