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bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA)

Indications: - hearing loss due to a) chronic ear infection b) congenital atresia of the auditory canal* c) deafness due to acoustic neuroma - mild to severe unilateral conductive hearing loss [1] - FDA-approved for a) sensorineural hearing loss# b) conductive hearing loss c) mixed hearing loss * useful if ear canal unable to tolerate hearing aid # may not be useful for sensorineural hearing loss Procedure: - a titanium implant is placed into bone allowing bone conduction to stimulate the cochlea directly, thus bypassing the outer & middle ear - vibrations through the skull are sent by the titanium implant to the cochlea which stimulates the nerve fibers of the inner ear - patients can test the BAHA prior to surgery

General

hearing aid; digital hearing aid

References

  1. Geriatric Review Syllabus, 7th edition Parada JT et al (eds) American Geriatrics Society, 2010 - Geriatric Review Syllabus, 8th edition (GRS8) Durso SC and Sullivan GN (eds) American Geriatrics Society, 2013
  2. de Wolf MJ, Shival ML, Hol MK et al Benefit and quality of life in older bone-anchored hearing aid users. Otol Neurotol. 2010 Jul;31(5):766-72. PMID: 20581615 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] - de Wolf MJ, Hol MK, Mylanus EA, Cremers CW. Bone-anchored hearing aid surgery in older adults: implant loss and skin reactions. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2009 Jul;118(7):525-31. PMID: 19708493