Negosentro | Working & Implantation of Bone Conduction Hearing Aids | Sometimes hearing aids are not enough to provide you with the best hearing solutions.
At this point, bone-anchored treatments are the most suitable option. Cochlear implants can also be considered as one of the most effective treatments for hearing loss as well. Both of these treatments are quite unusual because they are implanted surgically.
This article comprises everything about the bone conduction hearing aids to help you become more familiar with it & to find out if you or someone you love need this treatment.
What is a bone conduction hearing aid?
It is designed for people who have severe hearing loss. It transfers the sounds through bone conduction to the inner ear. The device consists of a sound processor and a coupling mechanism.
It picks up the sound using microphones and then changes the signals into vibrations and sends them to the brain where a magnet located under the skin receives and translates. The signals are fed back to the device and bypass to the middle ear where they are again converted to create the sensation of sound.
How is it implanted in the head?
It is implanted in three different ways which are described below.
Children under five years are not surgical candidates, so if the parents are thinking about surgery for them, they should cancel the idea. The bone conduction devices attached to a soft land which children can wear around the head.
For children, five years or older can get the surgery, and it can be performed in two different ways:
- Small implantation behind the ear is once the bone has grown around the implant and abuts the conduction device into the abutment bone in the soft part.
- A magnet is implanted in the bone just behind the ear. This is used to connect the ear and the brain to send or receive the signal across the skin and help in hearing normally.
How does it work?
It has two parts, an outer part named as the processor and a surgically implanted part placed behind the ear. Both of these fixtures coordinate to create a sensation of sound. The processor is usually placed on the skin and attached to it whereas the second is fully implanted in the dermis kept there by using a small magnet inside the processor.
It offers amplifications without an ear mould which makes it much more comfortable even if the user is experiencing any infection. Some users report that they have a more natural sound than conventional hearing aids. However, it does not cure the problem but helps to manage everyday situations easily.
There are three different types of plants available in the markets. These include;
- Bone conduction hearing implants (abutment through the skin and surgical implanted)
- Bone conduction hearing aids (a non-surgical soft headband)
- Bone conduction hearing implant (surgically implanted magnet under the skin)
If you are currently considering a bone and current treatment it is better to consult with an audiologist rather than a physician to help you understand if you should go for the ordinary bone conduction hearing aid or need any simulation device.
