Frequently Asked Questions

Acoustic Implants

BAHA

What is a bone conduction device, and for which hearing losses is this indicated?

We generally hear in two ways: by air conduction (sound waves traveling through the air into the ear canal) and bone conduction (the body's natural way of conducting sound vibrations through the bone to the inner ear). Both ways of hearing help to gather sound from the environment and send it onto the brain where is it is interpreted.
A bone conduction hearing system takes advantage of the natural bone conduction process when hearing is impaired and may help when hearing aids are insufficient or unsuitable by bypassing the damaged areas of the outer and middle ear and sending the sound directly to the inner ear.
Typical hearing losses that are indicated for bone conduction devices are:
"conductive hearing losses"(CHL)-where the diagnostic hearing test indicated normal bone conduction hearing; but sound cannot travel through the outer or middle ear because of chronic ear infections, draining ears or other factors.
"mixed hearing losses" (MHL)-where there may be damage in both the outer or middle ear and the inner ear indicating a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.
"single sided deafness" (SSD)- when there is little to no hearing in one ear, but normal hearing in the other ear
Our bone conductions systems (Osia® and Baha®) have external sound processors, worn externally, and internal implants that provides a stable foundation for the sound processor and transmits the vibrations to the inner ear
Surgical and non-surgical solutions are available

How does the Baha® system work?

Very simply, an external sound processor captures sound from air waves that are then turned into vibrations and sent through the bone. These vibrations are then carried by the bone to the inner ear
Our bone conduction implant system includes the following main components:
- External sound processor – The microphones in the sound processor pick up sounds in the environment. Using electro-magnetic conduction, the sound processor then turns the sounds into vibrations.
- Connection between sound processor and implant – Cochlear offers a magnetic connection as well as a connection through an abutment which then transfers the vibrations from the processor to the implant. If a non-surgical option is being used, the external sound processor will be placed behind the ear whilst being connected to a SoundBand™, Softband or SoundArc™.
Internal implant – all of our surgical bone conduction solutions use the stable foundation of our BI300 Implant with proven long-term reliability and sound transmission. The implant transmits the vibrations through the bone directly to the inner ear.

Is there a way to test drive/ trial a bone conduction system before implantation?

Yes! Baha® Start is the first step to experiencing a bone conduction hearing system.

and the improvement it may have on your everyday life before deciding on an implantable system. You can trial a bone conduction system before having surgery by using a Cochlear™ Baha® sound processor on a Baha® SoundBand™, Softband or SoundArc™ which is worn on your head.

Baha® Start is our non-surgical bone conduction system that features the Baha® SoundBand™, Softband or SoundArc™ and Baha® Sound Processor options for children who are not old enough (0-5 years) or who are not yet ready for a surgically implanted system.

What is the latest technology Baha processors and what technology is included in it?

Cochlear ™ has recently released its 7^th generation Baha ® sound processor, the Baha® 7, which:

Boasts a 55 db HL fitting range in a small form factor, offering powerful hearing without compromising on discretion.
Uses SmartSound® iQ technology- Designed to automatically adjust to the environment and reduce background noise that can make hearing difficult in challenging environments.
Is the first in bone conduction to enable Bluetooth® LE Audio and Auracast™ broadcast audio streaming capabilities
Offers direct streaming from compatible Apple® and Android™ devices
Pairs to Cochlear™ True Wireless™ devices that gives wireless connectivity without the need to wear anything around the neck.
Has the highest dust and water protection at IP68
Includes a LED light to confirm that the sound processor is on and connected
Enables control of the hearing experience conveniently from smartphones as well as the ability to update the sound processors firmware, remotely, using the Baha Smart App

Osia

How does an Osia system work?

The Osia OSI300 is placed under the skin and works by bypassing damaged areas of the outer and middle ear, which sends sound directly to the inner ear. The implant is attached to the BI300 which is Cochlear’s latest titanium implant featuring TiOblast™ surface technology. The implant is designed to promote faster and stronger integration to the bone (through a natural process known as osseointegration).

What is Piezo Power™ technology?

The Osia System's Piezo Power™ transducer, in the OSI300 Implant, creates vibrations that are sent through the bone directly to your inner ear. One of the advantages of the Piezo Power transducer is its ability to vibrate at high frequencies¹. This means that in the most difficult listening situations, like a noisy restaurant or a busy classroom, you will hear those sounds that bring clarity to speech understanding.

Lifetime testing shows that Piezo Power technology provides powerful and consistent performance over time.²

Cochlear Implants

Nucleus

How do I get a cochlear implant?

One of the first steps to getting a cochlear implant is to have your hearing tested by an audiologist who is trained in cochlear implants and advanced hearing technologies to see if you qualify as a candidate. Cochlear implants help adults with moderate to profound hearing loss, who are not receiving enough benefit when using hearing aids. Cochlear implants can also help children of a suitable age and size (as determined by a trained cochlear implant professional) who meet the audiological criteria for a cochlear implant.

How does a cochlear implant work?

Cochlear implants are an established, regulatory-approved medical treatment option designed to replace the function of the inner ear (cochlea) and mimic natural hearing. Cochlear implants use electrical impulses to transmit sound to the inner ear and on to the hearing nerve. This is then interpreted by the brain as sound. There are two main components to a cochlear implant system: an external processor and an internal implant. Research shows that adults with cochlear implants understand sentences almost seven times better on average than they could with hearing aids.

Will a cochlear implant help me hear better than my hearing aids?

Cochlear implants work differently than hearing aids. For some, hearing aids may be an effective option to treat hearing loss. However, as hearing loss progresses, it may still be difficult to hear speech and understand conversations, even when using powerful hearing aids. This is when a cochlear implant or a cochlear implant in one ear and a hearing aid in the other ear (bimodal hearing) may be a more effective solution to provide access to clearer sounds. In fact, research shows that 93% of cochlear implant recipients demonstrated significantly improved speech understanding with their cochlear implant compared to their speech understanding with a hearing aid.

How long is cochlear implant surgery?

Cochlear implant surgery can last up to two or three hours for one ear. The surgery is typically outpatient and performed under general anaesthesia. Cochlear implantation is considered safe, but like with any surgery, there are risks. After a couple days of recovery, most people are back to their normal routine and back to work 1 to 2 weeks after surgery.

Should I wait and let my child decide whether to get a cochlear implant?

Providing your child access to sound when hearing loss is first detected is very important. Receiving a cochlear implant early in your child’s life can make a huge difference and provide a greater chance of them obtaining personal speech and language skills. For a child born with a hearing loss, who does not have access to sound, there is a critical period for implantation. In some cases, a child may not be deemed a candidate due to their age (this age varies depending on the implant program’s criteria).

What ages are suitable for cochlear implants?

Age is no barrier if the medical and personal requirements are met. This can be clarified in the preliminary assessment. To date, children have been fitted with our Cochlear™ Nucleus Sound Processor as young as 6 months, and the oldest adult to be fitted was over 90 years old.

Will I be able to understand conversations on the phone?

For some people with hearing implants, phone calls are easy from the start. For others, they are more challenging. With patience and practice, the understanding of speech on the phone usually improves. People with a Cochlear Implant on one ear and a ReSound hearing aid on the other, improve their ability to understand people on the phone from 6% with bilateral hearing aids to 71% with the combined solution of a hearing implant and hearing aid.

Will I be able to listen to music with my cochlear implant?

With motivation and practice, people may learn to enjoy music and play musical instruments once more. Research also shows that most recipients improve their music abilities with practice.

Aural Rehab

Aural (re)habilitation

What is aural (re)habilitation?

Aural Rehabilitation is a personalized programme that is designed to help individuals who are navigating the challenges of hearing loss. It is all about improving your communication and ensuring that you are communicating as effectively as possible, using a combination of strategies, technologies, and assistive listening devices. Aural rehabilitation is about learning to maximize the use of hearing technologies, understanding speech better, and finding new ways to connect with others to support and facilitate the journey toward clearer communication.

Can aural rehabilitation be personalised?

Aural rehabilitation is not a one-size-fits-all programme. It is individualised according to your communication needs and is designed to fit your individual hearing needs, lifestyle preferences, and communication goals. The communication plan is crafted together with your therapist so that it resonates with your life, to make communication clearer and more joyful.

What are assistive listening devices (ALDs)?

People with different types and degrees of hearing loss can benefit from using an assistive listening device (ALD), like a mini microphone. Since the microphone of a typical hearing device is worn on or behind your ear, its ability to enhance the talker-to-background-noise ratio can be limited. However, ALDs are designed to increase the loudness of a desired sound, such as a radio, television or a communication partner, without increasing the background noise. This is because the microphone of the assistive listening device is placed close to the talker or device being used, while the microphone of the hearing device is always close to the listener.

ALDs include alarm clocks, TV streamers, mini microphones, the phone clip, amplifying devices and auditorium-type assistive listening systems. Many newer devices are small, wireless and compatible with the individual user’s hearing device(s).