From the Research
Middle ear implants are indicated for patients with moderate to severe sensorineural, conductive, or mixed hearing loss who cannot benefit from conventional hearing aids, as shown in the most recent study from 2021 1. These devices are particularly suitable for individuals who experience issues with conventional hearing aids such as ear canal infections, occlusion effect, feedback problems, or inadequate sound quality. Candidates typically have functioning middle ear structures and sufficient cochlear reserve to process amplified sound. Specific indications include:
- Chronic otitis externa
- Congenital ear canal atresia
- Previous ear surgeries with altered anatomy
- Allergic reactions to ear molds Middle ear implants work by directly stimulating the ossicular chain or round window, bypassing the ear canal and providing clearer sound quality with less distortion than conventional aids. The most recent and highest quality study from 2021 1 demonstrated excellent post-operative hearing results with active middle-ear implants, with a mean gain in pure tone average of 23.5 dB and significant improvement in word recognition score at a hearing level of 50 dB. Before implantation, patients should undergo comprehensive audiological evaluation, imaging studies, and medical assessment to confirm suitability, as recommended in the study from 2021 2. The procedure involves surgical placement under general anesthesia, with a recovery period of several weeks before the device is activated and programmed by an audiologist. It is also worth noting that bilateral implantation of fully implantable middle ear hearing devices has been shown to be an effective procedure, with significant benefits in speech perception in noise and localization tests, as demonstrated in the study from 2021 2. Overall, middle ear implants are a viable option for patients with moderate to severe hearing loss who have not benefited from conventional hearing aids, and the most recent evidence supports their use in a variety of clinical scenarios.