Bone Conduction Hearing Devices

1) Bone Anchored Hearing Aid (BAHA)

The Bone Anchored Hearing Aid (BAHA) is a type of hearing aid that sends sounds to the inner ear via vibrations through the skull. It is recommended for persons with chronic ear infections, external ear or ear canal malformations or single sided deafness. These individuals either cannot wear or do not benefit from a conventional behind-the-ear or in-the-ear hearing aid.

How does the BAHA work?

Credits: Cochlear

How is the BAHA worn?

Softband

In babies and young children, the BAHA softband holds the sound processor against the skin, allowing the bone beneath to be vibrated.

Implanted

The skull bone needs to have sufficient density and bone depth before surgery can be performed and the titanium implant fixed. The BAHA can be retained either using an abutment (transcutaneous) or a magnet (percutaneous).

The ENT surgeon and Audiologist will be involved in the candidacy assessment for BAHA. A trial with the device is given before the patient makes a decision to proceed with the surgery.

2) Bonebridge

The Bonebridge is a bone conduction implant system, consisting of an external audio processor, worn behind the ear and an implant, positioned surgically under the skin. 

It is recommended for individuals 6 years and older with mild to moderate conductive or mixed hearing loss or single sided sensorineural hearing loss. 

How does the Bonebridge work?

• Sound is picked up by the microphones of the audio processor.
• The audio processor converts the sound into electrical signals, which are then transferred to the implanted part of the Bonebridge system.
• The electrical signals are converted into mechanical vibrations by the implant and transmitted directly to the inner ear.
• In the inner ear, the mechanical vibrations are converted into nerve signals, transmitted to the brain and perceived as sound.

Credits: Med-El