Middle ear implantable hearing devices

Abstract

For over two decades, corporate and academic researchers have worked to develop practical middle ear implantable hearing devices (MEIHDs). Now that two such devices are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for sale in the United States, and several more are in development, it is time for clinicians to consider these devices as more than a passing idea. With more than 1500 implants in place worldwide, clinical evidence that describes the value of these devices as tools for the rehabilitation of sensorineural hearing loss is plentiful. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of MEIHDs and to provide the clinician with some background of MEIHD technologies to help in the analysis of these devices as they appear on the market.