Yesterday after 35 years and almost 20 major surgeries someone suggested to me BAHA might be a good option for me - can’t say anyone has tried to rescue my hearing for a few years I thought I’d just always be deaf on one side. Feeling quite overwhelmed and emotional - anyone with any experience of this solution that could tell me what it’s like?
Yeah I knew what it meant, was being lazy writing the initials!! just didn't know what type of aid it was, sounds very similar to mums cochlear implant , she's had it years, was one of the first in Sheffield. Technology has moved on since, amazing what they can do now
Just read your post - I work with a guy who had B AHA done about 2 years ago now. He says it was the best thing he could have done as it has restored the hearing in his bad ear. He had to have his op done privately - but it is available on NHS - and there are some really good consultants out there. I think he was off work about 8 weeks with it. I think you have to wait 8 weeks for healing to be done before they can attach the outer device. He said he had forgotten what a clock ticking sounded like. I do know he had a lot of middle ear infections when he was younger and hence why he needed a BAHA to sort his hearing out. If it gives you the chance to hear again - go for it. I am sure there will be a few people in the acoustic neuroma group who might be able to help you more as a few of them have BAHA to regain some of their lost hearing.
Very quickly, the use of this type of aid is when the Mechanical system is not working because of ear infections or Mastoid, but the Electrical system (Cochlea) is working OK, they screw a small attachment to the skull and fix a vibrating hearing aid to the "Post", that transmits sound to the Cochlea so you can hear, they are very successful, although cosmetically they are quite visible.
It would seem your hearing loss is in the electrical part of your hearing, so depending the degree of loss, you will need a Air Conduction Hearing Aid, either a standard aid you see daily a BTE, behind the ear, or a In The Ear type aid a ITE, BTE is available from the NHS, which will be the Older Technology, ITE’s are only available in the private sector, but everything is subjected to a hearing test, pop into your local Independent Hearing Specialist and ask for there opinion it’s normally free, but if they make a charge find a free one.
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