A bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA) consists of a permanent titanium fixture, which is surgically implanted into the skull bone behind the ear, and a small detachable sound processor that clips onto the fixture. BAHAs are suitable for people with conductive or mixed hearing loss who cannot benefit fully from conventional hearing aids. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21729632
Who qualifies for a BAHA?
If you are deaf in one ear or you have conductive or mixed hearing loss, the Baha System may be a solution for you. Single-Sided Deafness You have little or no hearing in one ear, but normal hearing in the other ear. Possible Causes:
Sudden deafness
Acoustic Neuroma
Birth defects
Genetics
Head trauma
Ménière's disease
Adverse reactions to drugs
Malformation at birth or missing inner ear or cochlea
Conductive Hearing Loss You have a problem with your outer or middle ear. Possible Causes:
Skin Allergies
Malformations at birth
Microtia and Astresia
Draining Ears
Chronic Ear Infections
Previous ear surgeries
Chronic mastoiditis or middle ear infections
Skin growth or cyst (cholesteatoma)
Syndromes such as Down, Goldenhar and Treacher Collins
Mixed Hearing Loss You have a problem with your outer or middle ear and your inner ear. Any of the causes of conductive hearing loss plus any of the following:
The implantation of the BAHA is a simple procedure done in the operating room which takes approximately 1 hour. The patient has the choice of general or local anesthesia. A special skin graft is performed behind the deaf ear, and the skin follicles and fat are removed from the scalp. A hole is drilled into the skull and the titanium screw and abutment are inserted together. The skin is brought over the abutment, and a small hole is made in the skin through which the abutment protrudes. The skin is sewn back into position and 2 dressings are applied. The outer dressing is removed the next day and the inner dressing is worn for 7-10 days. There is little post-operative pain and patients are able to return to most functions of their lives the next day. The skin is usually healed within 2 weeks, but the hearing is not worn for 2 months, giving time for the bone to osseo integrate into the titanium screw.
Info obtained from: http://www.earassociates.com/services-bone-anchored-hearing-aids-san-jose-ca.html
Videos on the BAHA
More info to come on BAHAs
Disclaimer: Hearing Loss Association of America does not promote one BAHA company over another. The choice of implant company is completely up to the candidate.