EARS
NOSE
THROAT
DIZZINESS
TINNITUS
SEARCH
ABOUT THE BAHA
This is a very effective device which has been around for over 25 years.
A small area of skin behind the ear is lifted up and all the fat and muscle underneath is removed to expose the bone. We then make a hole into the skull and a small titanium screw with a connector attached to it is screwed into place. A hole is made in the skin flap for the connector to poke through and the skin flap is stitched back in place. The screw is given time to heal into the bone (anything from 4 – 12 weeks) and then the vibrating hearing aid part (the BAHA) can be attached.
The BAHA easily snaps on and off. It needs to be taken off at night or for showering or swimming.
Why Titanium?
Titanium has an amazing property of OSSEO-INTERGRATION. This means that the bone grows right up to the metal and into all the thread of the screw which allow for very efficient sound conduction. A different type of metal amy develop a scar tissue capsule between it and the bone and so would not work so well.
WHO MIGHT BENEFIT FROM A BONE ANCHORED HEARING AID?
Three groups of people may benefit from a BAHA:
- Patients with a CONDUCTIVE hearing loss
- Patients with a MIXED loss.
- Patients with a ONE SIDED severe to profound nerve hearing loss (= a sensori-neural hearing loss)
This is where sound can not get through to the inner ear. Possible causes are listed below. Often this sort of hearing loss can be treated with a normal hearing aid but some people can not use a normal hearing aid either because it causes ear infections or because the patient may not have an ear or ear canal.
For people with a conductive hearing loss and repeated infections whenever they use a normal hearing aid the BAHA can be effective at not only helping the hearing but also allowing the ear to dry up and avoid infections because the ear canal is no longer blocked.
Causes of a conductive hearing loss where BAHA may help:
- abnormal or absent pinna
- blocked or absent ear canal
- recurring ear canal infections
- chronically infected hole in the ear drum
- any cause of a conductive hearing loss where a normal hearing aid causes problems.
The BAHA allows the sound vibrations to bypass any problems in the ear canal or middle ear and to go straight to the healthy cochlea.
In some people with a conductive hearing loss the inner ear is also not working very well. For these people a certain degree of amplification is needed. The BAHA is able to provide that as long as the nerve hearing loss is not greater than 40dB.
People who have only one hearing ear often have a lot of problems:
- hearing people on their deaf side
- hearing in background noise
- localising where sounds come from
A normal hearing aid doesn’t work because the inner ear on that side is not working. However if the other ear has normal nerve hearing then the output from a bone conduction device will reach that normal nerve allowing the patient to hear.
Causes of a single sided deafness:
- Trauma
- Viral infection
- Labyrinthitis
- Severe Menieres disease
- Sudden sensori-neural hearing loss
- Acoustic neuroma removal
- Congenital (i.e. born with only one hearing ear)
THE OPERATION
The operation can be performed under a local anaesthetic or a general anaesthetic.
It takes about 20 minutes to perform.
No bandage is required around the head.
There will be a dressing over the operated area held on by a small plastic cap which is clicked onto the BAHA connector. This stays in place for 1-2 weeks. After this time the dressing is removed. The stitches are all absorbable. The skin will usually be fully healed by 2-3 weeks.
The operation can be performed on the NHS in most parts of the country.
AFTER THE OPERATION
Life long care is required after the operation to ensure that the skin around the abutment remains healthy. The area needs to be cleaned daily.
The external BAHA device will be given to you to attach to the abutment about 4-6 weeks after the operation.
PROBLEMS
About 85% of people have absolutely no problems with their BAHA and are delighted with the benefit
About 15 % of people may get problems such as;
- infections around the abutment
- pain around the abutment
- thickening of the skin around the abutment
These can usually all be treated but will mean further visits to the hospital and possibly further surgery. Occasionally the device needs to be removed.
Manufacturers
Two companies make BAHAs and further information can be found at their websites: