Sektion Cochlear Implant - ICFKlinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenheilkunde

Active Middle Ear Implants

Besides bone-anchored hearing systems, patients with combined deafness can also be fitted with active middle ear implants (Active Middle Ear Implants, AMEI) (see Fig. 8)

As middle ear implants, there are
on the one hand completely implantable systems, in which all components, including batteries and microphone are implanted under the skin (e.g. Carina®, Esteem®)
and on the other hand, partially implantable systems, in which only the implant is inserted, the speech processor with microphone and batteries are held on the intact skin by means of magnets (e.g. Vibrant Soundbridge®, Carina with Button®).

A further indication for fitting with bone-anchored hearing systems is single-sided inner ear hearing loss, which can no longer be treated with cochlear implant  (Link to ICF-page), because the auditory nerve was not developed at birth or damaged later during an operation. The hearing implant serves here to transmit sound presented from the deaf side via bone conduction to the normally-hearing side (CROS-fitting, contralateral routing of signal).

Which manufacturers are our partners?

We have been working closely for many years with all leading implant manufacturers, listed above  (among them Cochlear®, Med-El®, Oticon®, Medtronic®) and can therefore provide each patient  extensive individual consultation tailored to the type and extent of deafness before any decision concerning surgery is made. We demonstrate and explain the various types of implants and their special features. As long as there is no medical or technical reason to use a particular implant, the patient selects the system himself.