European premiere for innovative hearing implant in Freiburg
Physicians at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg implant a new type of bone conduction hearing system for the first time in Europe / High amplification power and advantages in speech understanding and wearing comfort
In mid-April 2021, the Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg implanted a new type of hearing implant in a patient for the first time in Europe. The device uses the bone conduction of the skull and bypasses damaged or blocked parts of the ear by transmitting the vibrations directly to the inner ear. Unlike many previous devices, there is no open connection to the bone through the skin. This potentially reduces the risk of infection while at the same time increasing the amplification power of the hearing system. The new implant also provides very good speech intelligibility in both quiet and noisy environments. The system is suitable for people with conductive hearing loss, combined hearing loss or single-sided deafness.
"We are delighted that we can provide our patients with a better hearing experience and more safety from infections and wearing comfort with this system," says Prof. Dr. Susan Arndt, Managing Senior Physician of the Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg, who inserted the implant with her team. The physicians in Freiburg have a great deal of experience in the further development and use of bone conduction systems. "First of all, we clarify whether surgery or a conventional hearing aid can help the patient. If this is not the case, we can offer patients a very good alternative with bone conduction hearing systems if they are suitable," reports Arndt. This was also the case for the patient who had already undergone three operations and for whom a repeat operation would probably not have brought any long-term improvement. "We know from our own studies on the previous model that patients can benefit greatly from the new device," says Arndt.
At the heart of the new implant is a piezoelectric transducer; it converts sound into vibrations, which are then transmitted to the inner ear via the skull bone. The system can be adjusted using a smartphone app. The use of the new implant is covered by health insurance if medically recommended.
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Susan Arndt
Managing Senior Physician
Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology
Uniklinik Freiburg
Phone: 0761 270-42010
susan.arndt@uniklinik-freiburg.de
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