If you’re curious about what to expect when performing the Esteem procedure, here’s a link to a brief Q&A on the procedure from Dr. Jack Shohet. Dr. Shohet is a neurotologist who has completed over 300 Esteem cases, more than any other active surgeon in the U.S. To date, there have been more than 1,000 Esteem devices implanted worldwide, and many of the original clinical trial patients have had their devices for more than 14 years.

What to Expect: A Surgeons Perspective

As Dr. Shohet comments in the Q&A above, the success rate is incredibly high, as 97% of patients implanted after the FDA approval show a demonstrable improvement in their audiometric evaluations. The three percent with less than successful results were caused by infections and poor audiological performance. The technology is very reliable with a failure rate of less than one percent. As you know, patient satisfaction rates are more subjective, and dependant on preoperative expectations.

When considering options it's always helpful to learn what an experienced Esteem surgeon has to say! 

In people with sensorineural (nerve-related) hearing loss, the mechanics of the middle ear are functioning normally. The Esteem is designed to leverage the natural mechanics of the middle ear. The surgical procedure takes place under general anesthesia and typically takes 3-4  hours. The procedure is outpatient and so you can go home after surgery.

Like all implanted medical devices, we use standard benchtop testing to try to determine the products’ anticipated lifespan. All benchtop testing done has shown an expected lifespan of at least 30 years (that was the limit of the testing done, not the limit of the device lifespan). 

The Esteem battery lasts 4.5 to 9 years with an average of five years. The battery life varies depending on the number of hours it is left on.  In extreme conditions with continuous exposure to very loud sound levels using the highest gain settings. battery life may be reduced to 2.8 years.

After the surgery, you will not be able to hear with the implanted ear until the device is turned on, which typically occurs at 8 weeks post-surgery.  After any middle ear surgery, it is normal for the middle ear space to fill with fluid which typically dissipates as the ear heals.