Active Middle Ear Implants

Rehabilitation of hearing loss with conventional hearing aids is limited by acoustic feedback, sound distortion, occlusion effects, and inadequate gain in patients with moderate to severe hearing loss. Active middle ear implants are an alternative for these patients. These devices bypass the external ear canal and prevent problems associated with occlusion and otitis externa. Direct stimulation of the cochlea can provide improvements in hearing gain, sound distortion, acoustic feedback, and high output levels. Clinical studies have demonstrated the tangible benefits of active middle ear implants in improving sound perception and speech intelligibility, thereby improving patients’ quality of life. Ongoing research aims to expand indications, improve connectivity, and tailor devices to individual needs.