Bone Anchored Hearing Aid (BAHA) provides an alternative to traditional air conduction hearing aids for patients with a conductive, mixed or single sided deafness hearing loss.
The BHA System can be an effective hearing solution because it bypasses any problems associated with the outer or middle ear such as in:
- Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media
- Otitis Externa
- ETD
- Otosclerosis
- ME growth/cholesteatoma
- Microtia/ Ear canal stenosis
- Atresia
- Syndromic hearing loss
- Acoustic Neuroma
BAHA sound processors can also be fitted on externally worn headpieces without the need for implant surgery. This proves beneficial for both trial purposes ie to demonstrate the hearing benefit a patient can have post-surgery and a suitable amplification option for patients who do not wish to proceed/cannot undergo surgery.
Why a BAHA and not middle ear surgery?
The BAHA provides:
- Reliable means of restoring hearing
- A reversible intervention
- No risk to further damage to hearing pathways
- An opportunity to evaluate benefit prior to surgery with non-invasive externally worn headpieces
- Studies have shown better speech recognition scores in quiet and noise for patients with a mild-moderate conductive hearing loss using BAHA vs conventional air conduction (AC) hearing aids
- No need for ear moulds, beneficial for patients OE/ME pathologies (i.e. discharging ears) affecting the tolerance of AC aids
- Should surgical pathway be considered, no risk of further damage to hearing (i.e. for otosclerosis/cholesteatoma patients)
At Victorian Hearing anyone interested in the BAHA system, will first require a comprehensive hearing assessment and medical clearance. Should they be a suitable candidate for BAHA, the patient will be offered a trial of the sound processor on an external headpiece.
BAHA sound processors come in various shapes and power levels, and best tailored to each individual’s hearing needs and goals. Most BAHA processors now also have Bluetooth functionality meaning they can be linked to mobile phones, TV streamers, to further enhance one’s listening experiences and feel connected.
