Buhl Christof, Schindler Valeria, Pfiffner Flurin, Veraguth Dorothe, Huber Alexander, Röösli Christof
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
J Clin Med. 2022 Mar 25;11(7):1811. doi: 10.3390/jcm11071811.
To evaluate the long-term audiological outcomes combined with the Hearing Implant Sound Quality Index (HISQUI) after Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) implantation.
Prospective recall cohort study of patients who received a VSB in a tertiary academic medical center between 1996 and 2017. Air conduction (AC) and bone conduction (BC), sound field thresholds in aided and unaided conditions, and speech discrimination in noise (Oldenburger sentence test) were measured. Postoperative results were compared with preoperative audiograms. Furthermore, the HISQUI was evaluated.
Ten patients (eleven implants) were included, the mean follow up period was nine years. The mean AC threshold preoperatively was between 63 and 70 dB, and the BC was between 38 and 49 dB from 500 to 4000 Hz. In the free-field audiogram, the mean threshold was between 61 and 77 dB unaided vs. between 28 and 52 dB in the aided condition. The average signal to noise ratio (SNR) in the Oldenburger sentence test in the unaided condition was 10 dB ± 6.7 dB vs. 2 dB ± 5.4 dB in the aided condition. Three patients reported a good to very good hearing result, four patients a moderate, and three patients a poor hearing result. There was a significant association between the years of implantation and the HISQUI ( = 0.013), as well as a significant decrease by 14 HISQUI points per 10 dB SPL decline (SE 5.2, = 0.023). There was a significant difference between the change of BC over the years and the HISQUI, as well as the number of years after implantation and the HISQUI. On average, per dB decrease in BC, the HISQUI decreases by 1.4 points, and every year after implantation the HISQUI decreases by 2.7 points.
The aided threshold in free field and speech understanding in noise improved significantly with VSB. An increase over time of BC thresholds was observed as well as a decrease in HISQUI score. This decrease in BC thresholds over time may be due to presbycusis. Therefore, monitoring of these patients over time should be considered to discuss alternative hearing rehabilitation measures in a timely manner.
评估植入活力声桥（VSB）后结合听力植入音质指数（HISQUI）的长期听力学结果。
对1996年至2017年在一家三级学术医疗中心接受VSB植入的患者进行前瞻性回顾队列研究。测量气导（AC）和骨导（BC）、助听和未助听条件下的声场阈值以及噪声中的言语辨别能力（奥尔登堡句子测试）。将术后结果与术前听力图进行比较。此外，对HISQUI进行评估。
纳入10例患者（11枚植入物），平均随访期为9年。术前500至4000Hz的平均AC阈值在63至70dB之间，BC阈值在38至49dB之间。在自由场听力图中，未助听时的平均阈值在61至77dB之间，而助听时在28至52dB之间。奥尔登堡句子测试中未助听条件下的平均信噪比（SNR）为10dB±6.7dB，助听条件下为2dB±5.4dB。3例患者报告听力结果良好至非常好，4例患者为中等，3例患者为差。植入年限与HISQUI之间存在显著关联（P = 0.013），并且每10dB SPL下降，HISQUI显著下降14分（标准误5.2，P = 0.023）。多年来BC的变化与HISQUI之间以及植入后年限与HISQUI之间存在显著差异。平均而言，BC每下降1dB，HISQUI下降1.4分，植入后每年HISQUI下降2.7分。
VSB显著改善了自由场中的助听阈值和噪声中的言语理解能力。观察到BC阈值随时间增加以及HISQUI评分下降。BC阈值随时间的下降可能是由于老年性聋。因此，应考虑对这些患者进行长期监测，以便及时讨论替代的听力康复措施。
