What is BAHA?

Bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA) is a surgically implanted device designed to help you with hearing loss. BAHA system bypasses the middle and outer ear problems and transmits the sound waves directly to the inner ear.

How does Bone Anchored Hearing Aid work?

BAHA works by transmitting the sound signal directly to the cochlea. Once the cochlea receives the sound signals, the information is converted into neural signals and transmitted to the brain, where the signals are perceived as sound signals. This unique system allows the bone to transfer sound to the cochlea rather than through the middle ear – a process called direct bone conduction.

Who can use BAHA?

• For patients with outer ear problems or chronic middle ear infection, or congenital defects of the ear and can’t wear hearing aids, BAHA is the right procedure, as long as one of their ears has a cochlea with a moderate hearing level.
• For patients who cannot benefit from traditional hearing aids, BAHA may provide an excellent hearing alternative.

Due to its simplistic design, the BAHA system works well, which combines a sound processor with an abutment and a small titanium implant. This implant is placed behind the non -functional ear.

What to Expect from BAHA Surgery?

The BAHA implantation is a simple procedure done in the operating theatre, and it takes approximately one hour, with a choice of general or local anesthesia.

The patient will return to daily activities the next day, but there will be a little post-operative pain.

The skin in the area where the procedure is performed usually heals within two weeks, but the hearing aid is not worn for two months giving the bone the time to osseointegrate into the titanium screw.

Advantages of Having a BAHA:

• It allows the patient to hear clear and crisp sounds naturally because of the direct bone conduction.
• Comfortable to wear.
• The procedure of BAHA is reversible.

Dr.Neetu Modgil will assist you with this decision making process. The device selection must be made before your surgery for proper device ordering and billing. You will also need to select the appropriate color option to best match your hair color.