What is a bone conduction hearing aid?
-
Dr. Eric Smouha of The Mount Sinai Medical Center answered:A bone conduction hearing aid and a bone anchored hearing aid (BAHA) are for those who have good inner ear "nerve" function but cannot use a conventional hearing aid. The BAHA requires a minor surgical procedure.
A bone conduction hearing aid and a bone anchored hearing aid (BAHA) are for those who have good inner ear "nerve" function but cannot use a conventional hearing aid. The BAHA requires a minor surgical procedure. More -
Dr. David Vernick answered:Implantable bone conducting hearing aids are intended for people who can't wear regular hearing aids either because they have chronic ear infections or because they do not have an ear canal. In addition, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an implantable bone-conducting device for use on the deaf side in persons with single-sided hearing loss.
This type of device consists of a metal screw that is implanted into the skull behind the ear and attached to an external hearing aid. Unlike conventional hearing aids, which amplify sound, bone-conducting hearing aids conduct sound to the inner ear by vibrating against the mastoid bone in the skull, which lies behind the middle ear. The metal screw is implanted with outpatient surgery. $15,000 per ear for the implant and surgery. Insurance may or may not cover the expense.Implantable bone conducting hearing aids are intended for people who can't wear regular hearing aids either because they have chronic ear infections or because they do not have an ear canal. In addition, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has... More
