Bone Anchored Hearing Aids: BAHA
Indications
- Conductive hearing loss -not amenable to surgical correction, or where there is a contra-indication to hearing aids: usually previous surgery or severe external canal disease
- Single sided nerve deafness. This is often following a severe infection, trauma, or the removal of a tumour of the hearing nerve. The principle relies on transfering the sound from the bad ear to the good ear creating the illusion of hearing again from both ears.
The Device
- The implant only extends 3 or 4 mm into the temporal bone – relying on osseointegration for connection between live bone and the titanium
- Surgery is low risk, reversible and relatively simple
- MRI safe
Importantly it is essential to run a trial of the BAHA, prior to proceeding to surgery. This is performed by using a soft headband to hold the hearing aid in position. Whilst not giving as efficient a result as the final result it does provide a good idea as to the expected benefits.
Advances
Three recent developments have significantly improved the results of BAHA surgery.
The first is the development of the Linear Incision Technique, which has reduced side effects related to skin reactions to the implant.
The second is the introduction of a new implant (abutment) the BI300, which has been designed to further reduce skin problems around the implant and also to reduce the time required for osseo-integration. This means that the time need to wait before attaching the hearing aid has dropped from 3 months to 6 weeks.
Thirdly is the introduction of the BP100, a new sound processor which has signficantly improved the performance of the hearing aid itself.
Useful links inlcude www.cochlear.com and search BAHA.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or would like to make an appointment.
If you are a candidate we will discuss in more details and arrange a trial as appropriate.