Middle Ear Implants
What are middle ear implants (include type of anesthesia)?
Middle ear implants are a small device that is inserted into the middle ear and attached to parts of the ossicle or oval window in order to improve hearing. Unlike the audiometer, it does not incorporate a loudspeaker.
Why is it performed?
It is carried out for those cases in which the conventional hearing aid does not provide good results or in which for different reasons it cannot be used. Nowadays there are different models of middle ear hearing implants that are completely inserted into the ear, which, in addition to achieving better audiological performance, the implant is integrated into the body, thus avoiding inconveniences such as dependence on a conventional hearing aid.
What does it consist of?
Middle ear implants capture sounds and convert them into mechanical vibrations. This energy is used to directly stimulate the inner structures of the middle ear to facilitate exceptional sound perception at high frequencies. The external auditory canal remains completely open.
The application surgery is performed under general anesthesia, with a single incision behind the pinna through which the middle ear will be accessed, where the active part of the implant is fixed. Another part of the system will be placed just below the skin behind the ear and, depending on the type of implant chosen, it will have an external element or not.
Care after the intervention (care with the implant)
Adults or children with a middle ear implant must follow a series of precautions. For proper operation, the external parts of the device should not get wet and should be protected from static electricity. In addition, it is recommended to avoid sports or activities that may cause strong shocks to the head or to use adequate protection such as a helmet. In certain cases, radiofrequency sources such as cell phones may cause interference with the sound received through the implant. Such interference does not harm the implant or cause injury to the implant user. Patients with an implant should advise their general practitioners or pediatricians of this situation, since special precautions should be followed in the event that they require any type of surgical intervention or MRI scan.
Unlike hearing aids that amplify sound, a middle ear implant captures sounds and converts them into mechanical vibrations. This mechanical energy is used to directly stimulate the middle ear structures to provide exceptional sound perception at high frequencies. The ear canal remains completely open. Middle ear implants are a proven alternative to hearing aids.
Implanted since 1996, the VIBRANT SOUNDBRIDGE middle ear implant system from MED-EL is the most successful middle ear implant on the market today. SOUNDBRIDGE has been helping thousands of people around the world to improve their hearing for almost 20 years. The system incorporates the new SAMBA audio processor.