What is Baha®?
The Baha® system utilizes your body’s natural ability to conduct sound. Bone, like air, can conduct sound vibrations. For people with hearing loss, this provides another pathway to perceive sound. Rather than rely on the sound amplification typical of an air conduction hearing aid – which may be blocked by a damaged or occluded middle ear – the Baha system bypasses the ear canal and middle ear altogether.
Instead, sound is sent around the damaged or problematic area, naturally stimulating the cochlea through bone conduction. From there, the auditory nerve transfers signals to the brain, allowing the individual to hear the sound.
The Baha® system
1. A sound processor picks up sound vibrations.
2. An abutment is attached to the sound processor and the implant. The abutment transfers sound vibrations to the implant.
3. A small titanium implant is placed in the bone behind the ear where it fuses with the living bone. This process is called osseointegration*. The implant transfers the sound vibrations via the skull bone to the functioning cochlea.
* More about Osseointegration: The foundation of Baha is the Brånemark system. In the early 1950s Professor Brånemark discovered that titanium was not rejected by the human body. Instead, a process he termed as “osseointegration” takes place in which a titanium implant integrates with living bone. This system has been developed not only for Baha hearing implants but also for Cochlear’s craniofacial reconstruction system Vistafix.
What does the sound processor look like?
The Baha® Sound Processor snaps on to the abutment. The processor is small, discreet and is available in a variety of colors. The volume controls are conveniently located for easy adjustments.