[Application of the middle ear implant in case of high frequency hearing loss--case study]

People who suffer from hearing impairment complain mainly of a problem with communication. Wearing hearing aids can often compensate some problems related with moderate to serve sensorineural hearing loss. Many of hearing aids users complain of some problems associated with plugging the ear canal, such as feedback, unpleasant sound while eating, unnatural sound of their own voice, physical discomfort. The alternative method for some group of patients with sensorineural loss is the middle ear implant. In the middle ear implant the sound is converted into mechanical vibrations that directly drive the ossicular chain inside the middle ear. It leaves the ear canal open and ear drum undisturbed. The sound quality is improved and residual hearing is preserved. Additionally feedback is reduced while comfort improved. 53-year-old man with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (mild at low frequencies up to 1000 Hz in combination with serve degree at high frequencies) was implanted with Vibrant Soundbridge system. Tests of speech comprehension in quiet were performed using monosyllabic word lists. Improvement in patienfs score was observed while testing with Vibrant Soundbridge. Patient also reports significant improvement in subjective assessment. Application of the Floating Mass Transducer for sound processing results in significant improvement in sound quality. Results obtained indicate a high level of benefits with the Yibrant Soundbridge.