Overview

Bone anchored hearing aid transfers soundwaves by processor and implant, stimulates bone, and transfers vibrations to cochlea. A bone anchored hearing aid transfers soundwaves by vibrations through your skull bones.

What is a bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA)?

Old-fashioned hearing aids amplify sound through your middle ear. A bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA), though, is an implantable hearing device. It sends soundwaves through the bones of your skull to the cochlea (a spiral-shaped structure in your inner ear responsible for hearing). This hearing aid is also called bone-anchored hearing implant (BAI). Even though BAI is the technically correct term, people use BAHA and BAI interchangeably.

A bone-anchored hearing aid may be able to restore partial hearing in those with certain types of hearing loss or those who are poor candidates for traditional hearing aids.

A BAHA traditionally consisted of three parts:

• Titanium implant.
• External connector.
• Sound processor.

Types of bone conduction hearing systems

There are two major types of bone conduction hearing systems:

Surgically implanted bone-anchored hearing aids (BAHA) – This is the most common one. A surgeon puts in a tiny titanium device in the bone at the rear of your ear. Once the implant has healed, you can fit the external sound processor and restore your hearing. You can remove the processor when you sleep, shower or get hair treatments.

Nonsurgical bone conduction hearing aids (BCHA) – Experts typically recommend nonsurgical bone conduction hearing aids (BCHA) to children under age 5 and to those who do not desire surgery. Some bone conduction hearing aids are glued directly to your skin. Others are placed on a headband that you can wear whenever you wish.

Your audiologist and ENT can tell you which one is best for your situation. Candidacy for a bone-anchored hearing aid includes factors like your age, medical health, type of hearing loss and personal preference.

During an office consultation with your doctor, you might be able to try out a nonsurgical BCHA. This provides you with a feeling about how this system works prior to surgery.

Conditions treated with BAHA hearing aid

BAHA hearing aids can benefit people who have:

• Conductive or mixed hearing loss (where sound won't travel through your ear in the manner that it should).
• Single-sided deafness (there is hearing in one ear but very little or none at all in the other).

These types of hearing loss may be caused by such conditions as:

• Chronic middle ear infections.
• Cholesteatoma.
• Acoustic Neuroma.
• Meniere's disease.
• Malformation in your outer or middle ear (aural atresia).

To discover whether you're a candidate for a bone-anchored hearing aid, speak with your medical caregiver. Your caregiver can send you to an otolaryngologist for an examination.

Procedure Details

What does bone-anchored hearing aid surgery involve?

This procedure typically lasts anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the kind of bone-anchored hearing system you have.

During bone-anchored hearing aid surgery, an otolaryngologist will:

• Give you anesthesia to keep you comfortable. (This may be local or general anesthesia, depending on what's wrong.)
• Cut a small bit of skin behind your ear.
• Drill a tiny hole straight back behind your ear, in your mastoid bone (which is in your head).
• Place a small titanium implant behind your ear, in your mastoid bone. The implant itself is about three to four millimeters in diameter. That's about half the size of a pea.
• Place an abutment (connector) onto the implant. (Your skin will heal around the connector, so it sticks out a little.)
• Close the incision with stitches and place surgical dressing.

Bone-anchored hearing aids rely on osseointegration. With it, your bone is integrated into the titanium implant, providing stability. This should occur prior to fitting the sound processor onto the external connector. Healing times vary due to the type of BAHA you use and your ability to heal. But typically, this takes anywhere from one to three months.

Potential Risks / Advantages

What are the benefits of bone-anchored hearing aids (BAHA)?

There are some benefits of bone-anchored hearing aids, including:

More Comfortable – You do not need to put something inside your ear canal, as is the case with traditional hearing aids. That is more comfortable for you. Also, you decrease your chances for skin irritation.

Better Sound Quality – Your skin does not soften the bone-conducting signal, so you will hear better sound.

Better outcome prediction – Because you can try a nonsurgical BAHA in an office visit with your physician, you will have an idea of what it's like before you have the surgery done.

What are drawbacks of bone-anchored hearing aids (BAHA)?

The biggest drawback to bone-anchored hearing aids is that they must be surgically implanted. BAHA surgery is a minor surgery, yet, as with any surgery, there may be a little risk involved.

Possible complications are:

• Inflammation.
• Infection.
• Implant failure (if your bone fails to attach properly to the implant).

Also, if people using bone-anchored hearing aids get head trauma (like hitting their head), there could be more serious results. This could include infection, implant failure or other surgery. To reduce your risk for this type of trauma, wear a helmet when engaging in sports with contact or while biking or driving a motorcycle.

Recovery & Prognosis

How long does it take to recover after bone-anchored hearing aid surgery?

There is early recovery taking around three to seven days. There can be some redness and tenderness in the area around the implant during this time.

You won't have instant use of your BAHA hearing aid. You'll have to wait for your bone to grow together with the titanium implant. When that happens, your practitioner will install your external sound processor on your implant and adjust the settings to restore your hearing. They will also show you how to properly remove and replace your processor.

When to see the Doctor

When should I call my doctor?

If you've recently had bone-anchored hearing aid surgery, call your provider if you experience:

• Infection, swelling or drainage at the implant site.
• Ear pain that doesn't get better with medicine.
• Fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit (38.3 degrees Celsius).

FAQs

What is the success rate of bone-anchored hearing aids?

BAHA hearing aids have excellent results. Research studies report success rates of 90% or higher.

How is a cochlear implant different from a bone-anchored hearing aid?

A BAHA hearing aid sends soundwaves to your inner ear, where your skull bones ring to allow you to hear. A cochlear implant, however, goes around your inner ear and stimulates your auditory nerve directly. People with damage to their inner ear can be treated with cochlear implants.

Conclusion

Hearing loss can have a great negative effect on your quality of life. It can be frustrating and disappointing, particularly if you've found standard hearing aids not much use. Bone-anchored hearing aids harness the power of bone conduction to replace hearing loss in individuals suffering from some types of ear infections and certain kinds of hearing impairments. BAHA appliances are non-invasive and successful, with good rates of achievement. You do have several nonsurgical and surgical options to choose from, depending on your individual circumstances and preferences. Talk to your otolaryngologist or audiologist to see if a BAHA could be appropriate for you.

Why Choose Tender Palm Super Speciality Hospital for Bone Anchored Hearing Devices in Lucknow, India

Tender Palm is the Best Hospital for Bone anchored hearing solutions in Lucknow, India. We have a skilled team of ENT surgeons and audiologists experienced in BAHA and Bonebridge systems. We provide precise surgical care, latest hearing device technology, and personalised follow-up support for patients with conductive or single-sided hearing loss.

To Seek an Expert Consultation for Bone Anchored Hearing Devices in Lucknow, India:

Call us at +91-9076972161
Email at care@tenderpalm.com

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