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Woman with a BAHA device outside with friends

Image courtesy of Cochlear Americas

Also called osseo-integrated bone conduction device, a bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA) is an FDA-approved surgical option to improve hearing for individuals with certain types of hearing loss.

Bone conduction is the ear's natural ability to hear the transmission of sound through the bones of the skull.

A BAHA device works on the principle of bone conduction and does not require any part of the device to be placed in the ear canal. This allows sound to bypass the ear canal, eardrum and middle ear and stimulate the inner ear directly.

The BAHA system treats these specific types of hearing loss:

  • Conductive hearing loss
  • Mixed hearing loss
  • Single-sided deafness

At UMMC Division of Audiology, our audiologists can help you determine if this alternative to a traditional hearing aid is the right choice for you.

We guide you through the process of obtaining appropriate testing and setting up a selection appointment. You will have the opportunity to try the BAHA device on a test band during the selection appointment.

BAHA Hearing Loss Treatment

There are two companies that offer BAHA systems. We provide information about both systems and allow you to demo the appropriate devices of each company before you select the manufacturer you prefer.

Cochlear Americas offers these BAHA sound processors:

  • Baha 6 Max
  • Baha 5
  • Baha 5 Power
  • Baha 5 Super Power
  • Osia

Note: Osia not possible to demo directly.

Oticon Medical offers:

  • Ponto 4
  • Ponto 3 Power
  • Ponto 3 Super Power

How the BAHA System Works

The BAHA system consists of two parts:

  • Titanium post - During a minor surgery, this is placed in the bone behind the affected ear. It typically takes 4 to 12 weeks for the post to fuse to the surrounding bone (a process called osseo-integration).
  • External sound processor - After that, the external sound processor is connected to the titanium post. The external sound processor picks up sound with the microphone and converts it into mechanical energy/vibration, which we perceive as sound.

Through the coupling of the titanium post and the external sound processor, sound is delivered through bone conduction.

Contact Us

Call 410-328-6866 to make an appointment with an audiologist today to learn more about a BAHA system or cochlear implants.

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