When the majority of individuals think about hearing aids, they picture conventional devices that amplify sound through the ear canal. For individuals struggling with specific hearing impairments, including relentless ear issues or unilateral deafness, an alternative solution might provide improved sound quality and user comfort: bone conduction hearing aids.
How Bone Conduction Hearing Devices Work
Bone conduction hearing devices work by bypassing the outer and middle ear. Rather than relying on airwaves to transmit sound, these devices use the head’s bones to direct vibrations directly to the cochlea, the inner ear’s sound-processing center. This allows sound to reach the auditory nerve even if there is a blockage or injury in the ear canal. Consider this example: When you put your hands over your ears and still manage to hear the sound of your own voice while talking, that’s an illustration of bone conduction working.
Bone Conduction vs. Conventional Hearing Aids
Traditional hearing aids boost sound and funnel it through the ear canal. This works well for people who have sensorineural hearing loss, where the inner ear or auditory nerve is compromised. But if the issue is with the outer or middle ear, as a result of infection, fluid accumulation, or structural issues, standard hearing aids might not be reliable or comfortable. Bone conduction hearing devices are often a more reliable option in such scenarios as they steer clear of the problematic regions and transfer sound directly to the cochlea.
Bone Conduction Candidates
Bone conduction devices are helpful for:
- Conductive hearing loss, when sound has difficulty moving through the outer or middle ear at all.
- Persistent ear infections or problems with fluid drainage could be aggravated by conventional hearing aids.
- Individuals with flawed ear canals or the absence of outer ears, who may not qualify for traditional devices.
- Single-sided deafness (SSD), where one ear has severe hearing loss or no hearing. These gadgets provide a non-intrusive option that is frequently more comfortable, particularly for people, both young and old, who experience recurring ear problems.
Options that include implantable and non-implantable solutions:
There are two main types of bone conduction hearing devices:
- External non-implantable devices are generally fastened using a headband, softband, or adhesive pad. They are excellent for kids, those experimenting with bone conduction for the first time, or people who are not prepared for surgery.
- Surgically implanted devices involve a tiny device placed beneath the skin, which is connected to a separate sound processor mounted outside the body. They tend to offer more robust performance and reliability for long-term users. Your audiologist or ENT specialist can help decide which option is appropriate based upon your age, anatomy, and hearing goals.
Advantages of Employing Bone Conduction Hearing Devices
- Ideal for sensitive ears – does not require insertion into the ear canal
- Good audio quality remains consistent, in spite of ongoing problems with the ears
- Great for unique anatomy– helpful for individuals born without a complete outer ear or with other structural variations
- Improved communication– particularly in school, work, or noisy environments
If you or your child has trouble hearing in one or both ears, particularly because of ongoing infections or problems with sound transmission, it may be beneficial to consider bone conduction hearing devices.
Schedule an assessment with a hearing specialist today.
Sources: https://www.dukehealth.org/treatments/ear-nose-and-throat/bone-conduction-hearing-aid https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/baha–the-implantable- hearing-device https://www.ndcs.org.uk/advice-and-support/all-advice-and-support-topics/hearing-aids- implants-and-assistive-technology/ hearing-aids-and-implants/ bone-conduction-devices https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/14794-bone-anchored-auditory-implant
