Totally implantable hearing system: Five-year hearing results

Objectives/Hypothesis

1) To provide long-term hearing outcome measures of a totally implantable hearing system (implant) and compare to the baseline unaided (BLU) and baseline aided (BLA) conditions, and 2) discuss relevant safety measures.

Study Design

Prospective, nonrandomized, multicenter, single-subject-as-own-control design.

Methods

Fifty-one subjects with mild to severe sensorineural hearing loss were implanted between 2008 and 2009 and enrolled in this postmarket approval study in the setting of private and hospital-based practices. Forty-nine of these subjects completed the 5-year study, which included annual follow-ups. Primary effectiveness endpoints were speech reception threshold (SRT) and word recognition scores at 50 dB (WRS50s). Secondary effectiveness endpoints were WRSs and the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB) scores. Adverse Device Effects (ADEs) and Serious Adverse Device Effects (SADEs) reported during the study period and a comparison of bone conduction scores are submitted as safety measures.

Results

Compared to the BLA condition, 1) SRT scores were improved at every annual follow-up; 2) WRS50s were better in 49%, and the same in 41% at the 5-year follow-up; 3) WRSs were improved by 17% at the 5-year follow-up; and 4) APHAB scores were improved in most subscales at every annual follow-up. There were three SADEs in three subjects and 15 ADEs in 11 subjects. Bone conduction scores increased by 3.7 dB at the 5-year follow-up. Average battery life was 4.9 years.

Conclusions

The implant compared favorably to the subjects' hearing aid throughout the 5-year period in all of the areas measured and was found to be safe.

Level of Evidence

2b Laryngoscope, 2017

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