Acoustic hearing implants for mixed hearing loss: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Audiology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Mixed hearing loss (MHL) presents unique challenges for audiological management.
• Acoustic hearing implants (AHIs) offer a potential therapeutic option for MHL.
• Understanding the clinical outcomes and safety of AHIs is crucial for patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the literature on the clinical outcomes and safety of acoustic hearing implants (AHIs) in adults with mixed hearing loss (MHL).

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted across MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases up to March 1, 2013.
• Nineteen studies met the inclusion criteria, analyzing safety, coupling strategies, hearing outcomes, and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs).
• Study quality was assessed using predefined parameters, including study design, ethical approval, and outcome analysis.

Main Results:

• Acoustic hearing implants (AHIs) demonstrated benefits in speech perception in quiet and patient-reported outcomes, with favorable safety profiles regarding residual hearing.
• Meta-analysis was not feasible due to heterogeneity in outcome measures and reporting across studies.
• The overall quality and level of evidence for the included studies were moderate to low.

Conclusions:

• Acoustic hearing implants (AHIs) and their coupling strategies are beneficial for treating mixed hearing loss (MHL), improving speech in quiet and safety.
• Further research is required to compare AHIs with conventional hearing aids and bone-conduction implants, especially for speech in noise.
• Long-term follow-up data are essential to fully evaluate the efficacy and durability of AHIs.