A Case of the Vibrant Soundbridge Stapes Coupler in Patients with Mixed Hearing Loss.
- Author:
Ah Young PARK
1
;
Ju Hyun JEON
;
In Seok MOON
;
Jae Young CHOI
Author Information
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords: Hearing loss; Rehabilitation; Middle ear; Stapes
- MeSH: Aged; Ear, Middle; Head; Hearing; Hearing Aids; Hearing Loss; Hearing Loss, Mixed Conductive-Sensorineural*; Humans; Incus; Noise; Otitis Media; Rehabilitation; Speech Perception; Stapes*; Transducers
- From:Korean Journal of Audiology 2014;18(2):93-96
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: The Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) with stapes clip coupler placement at the stapes head has been used successfully to treat mixed hearing loss. Coupling between the floating mass transducer of the VSB and the stapes head is technically less demanding than incus vibroplasty and is more likely to generate a positive outcome without significantly changing residual hearing or resulting in medical or surgical complications. A 65-year-old man with bilateral mixed hearing loss and chronic otitis media underwent vibroplasty with a stapes clip coupler. Speech discrimination scores in both quiet and noise environments showed better functional gain with the VSB than with the use of a conventional hearing aid. The results of the present case show the feasibility of implanting a VSB with a stapes coupler in patients with mixed hearing loss due to chronic otitis media.
