A method for increasing the acoustic impedance of the round window membrane of the cochlea in a human patient includes surgically opening access to the round window membrane and placing a packing layer over the round window membrane. Optionally a layer of collagen graft may be obtained from the patient and placed between the round window membrane and the packing layer. Optionally the packing layer may be enclosed within the collagen graft. Optionally bone paté may be obtained from the patient and used to form at least a portion of the packing layer. Optionally a silastic buttress may be placed under compression between the packing layer and the bone of sinus tympani of the patient.
