Bone conduction hearing aids, also called osseointegrated or bone-anchored devices, are an innovative technology used to treat certain types of hearing loss. There are surgical and non-surgical options for bone conduction hearing aids. All bone conduction systems transmit the sound to the inner ear through bone conduction thereby bypassing the problems in the outer or middle ear. Individuals who suffer from a conductive, mixed or single-sided sensorineural hearing loss can benefit from the BAHA. Individuals who have private health insurance are covered for the cost of the BAHA system as long as the level of hospital cover includes surgically implanted prostheses and other items on the Federal Government’s Prostheses List. Limited public funding is available in Australia. Future BAHA adjustments are bulk-billed.
- Non-Surgical: Bone conduction hearing aids can be worn on a headband “soft band” or “Sound Arc” for patients who are interested in a bone conduction solution but would not like to pursue a the surgical option.
- Semi-implantable: A semi-implantable bone conduction hearing device that is attached to the skull by an osseointegrated titanium fixture (an abutment) with an external processor or hearing aid.
- Implantable: Implantable bone conduction systems include an external sound processor and internal implant. Implantable systems that we work with include the Cochlear Osia, and the Med-EL Bone Bridge.
Precision Hearing offers a non-surgical trial for qualified patients interested in a bone conduction hearing aid or osseointegrated device.
