Bone Conductive Hearing Devices

Bone Conductive Hearing Devices (traditionally known as BAHAs but now only the company Cochlear uses that name). This device works on the basis that sound can also be conducted via bone conduction (instead of the normal air conduction via the ear canal, eardrum and ossicles to reach the normal functioning cochlea  – with cochlear implants the cochlear is not functioning normally).

It is used in cases where normal hearing aids cannot be fitted or do not give as much benefit: like if you were born without ear canals, you get chronic infections from wearing a hearing aid or you have single sided deafness (so only one ear can hear). With recent technologically advancement you can now use these devices for mix losses – so your cochlear function do not have to be normal like in the past. There are magnetic devices and abutments. Each device has its own target population.

The best is to start with a hearing test and the audiologist (or ENT) can give you more information about these devices. Children wear them on a soft band – so the hearing aids is fitted on an elastic “alice band“.