This systematic review investigates the efficacy, comparative effectiveness, and safety of middle ear implants (MEIs) of cochlear implants, bone-anchored hearing aids, or external hearing aids in individuals with sensorineural, mixed, or conductive hearing loss.
MSAC: Medical Services Advisory Committee (Australia)
Through August 2009
Systematic reviews; clinical studies (e.g., randomized comparative studies, case series)
59
"Due to the differences in devices and the surgical procedures associated with them, the adverse events differ between MEI and its comparators. Overall, the absolute evidence from case series studies suggests that MEI appears to be as safe as [cochlear implants] and [bone-anchored hearing aids]" (p. 125).
"Generally the MEI appears to be as effective as the [hearing aid] in patients with [sensorineural hearing loss] and [mixed hearing loss]" (p. 127).
