Question: I’ve lost hearing in one ear and my ENT mentioned having a small screw-like aid surgically inserted behind the ear (that has hearing loss) could pick up the sound heard in the other ear. Giving you the feeling you are hearing from both ears. What is this device called? Is the device called a bone anchored hearing aid?
Answer:
Yes, the device you are asking about is affectionately called a BAHA, or a bone anchored hearing aid. A bone anchored hearing aid is placed into the bone behind the ear that hears poorly and is able to bring the sound to your other functioning ear. A BAHA is designed to use bone conduction, using the body’s natural ability to transfer sound through bone conduction. Which is why a bone anchored hearing aid is the treatment of choice for those who have a unilateral (one-sided) hearing loss. A BAHA has the ability to give you back the feeling that you can hear from both ears by relying on the good ear to hear for both ears.
By doing this, it gives the user the illusion that you are hearing sound in both ears, not just in one. Allowing for a much more clear and “balanced” hearing since it bypasses the middle ear and the external auditory canal. A bone anchored hearing aid is surgically embedded into the skull by a small surgical procedure performed by a hearing professional. Usually, the recovery period after surgery for a bone anchored hearing device is 4 to 12 weeks, which must be followed before your system can be programmed for the first time.
Dr. Sperling in our New York Hearing and Balance Center is a regional expert on this. If you have any questions or are in need of an appointment, please feel free to contact us.
Robert L. Pincus MD
Frequently Asked Questions
A bone anchored hearing aid, or BAHA, is a surgically implanted device placed into the bone behind the ear with hearing loss. It uses bone conduction to transmit sound from the impaired side to the functioning ear, creating the sensation of hearing from both ears.
A BAHA works by bypassing the outer and middle ear of the ear with hearing loss and transmitting sound vibrations through the skull bone to the healthy ear. This allows users to perceive sound as if they are hearing from both ears, improving clarity and balance in hearing.
The BAHA device is surgically implanted into the skull bone behind the ear through a minor procedure performed by a hearing specialist. Recovery typically takes between 4 and 12 weeks before the device can be fully programmed for optimal hearing.
Individuals with unilateral or single-sided hearing loss who have a functioning healthy ear on one side are ideal candidates for a BAHA. This device leverages bone conduction to aid hearing by routing sound to the good ear.
Unlike traditional hearing aids that amplify sound through the ear canal, a BAHA bypasses the outer and middle ear and directly stimulates the cochlea via bone conduction. This results in clearer, more balanced hearing, especially for those with middle ear problems or single-sided deafness.
Yes, by transmitting sound from the side with hearing loss to the healthy ear through bone conduction, a BAHA creates the illusion of hearing from both ears, improving spatial awareness and sound localization.
