Middle ear implant for mixed hearing loss with malformation in a 9-year-old child

SummaryObjectiveThe aim was to report the results of the first case in France of pediatric auditory rehabilitation with a middle ear implant and to discuss the putative indications with this new therapeutic option in children.Patient and methodsA prospective study over 18 months on clinical and audiometric results after a middle ear implantation with a Vibrant Med-El® implant in a 9-year-old child with mixed hearing loss.ResultsPostoperative unaided pure tone audiometry (PTA) was unchanged by the surgical procedure. After 18 months of implant use, the mean PTA loss in free-field warble tone audiometry was 33.75 dB and the intelligibility threshold was 30 dB. After 18 months of follow-up, the intelligibility threshold was improved by 25 dB in comparison with the preoperative results with two hearing aids. The implant worked perfectly well and the child did not show any complication during this period.ConclusionThe reliability of the implant and the quality of the auditory results obtained in this case and in a limited number of cases in the world make the Vibrant Med-El® a new therapeutic option in hearing loss in children with bilateral auricular atresia.