Introduction:
Especially in patients after multiple revision tympanoplasty, active middle ear implants
represent a promising hearing rehabilitation option. The fully implantable hearing
system Carina enables hearing rehabilitation in patients with high-grade sensorineural
or combined hearing loss.
Methods:
We examined eight patients after implantation of the Carina hearing system 2017. All
patients had a stable high-grade sensorineural or combined hearing loss. The speech
audiometric performance was determined pre- and postoperatively, analyzing speech
audiometric parameters in free field condition with/without masking noise. Additionally,
the functional gain was quantified.
Results:
Pre- and postoperative speech audiometric parameters are demonstrated in comparison
to the conventional hearing systems. Seven patients had undergone multiple tympanoplasty
for hearing improvement. The actuator was coupled to the incus, the stapes suprastructure,
the stapes footplate or the round window membrane depending on the middle ear pathology.
A cochlear depression was not observed in any case.
Conclusion:
Because of the alternative coupling methods, the Carina implant allows for a successful
hearing rehabilitation in patients with high-grade sensorineural or combined hearing
loss.
