A different kind of hearing system is bringing back the quieter things in life for some people with hearing loss. It's called the Baha hearing system.
The Baha is a surgically implanted system that consists of three parts: a titanium implant placed in the bone behind the non-functioning ear, a sound processor worn behind the ear and an external piece (abutment) that connects the sound processor to the implant.
"The Baha works through a process known as bone conduction, allowing sound to bypass the external ear canal and the middle ear. The sound processor transmits sound vibrations to the implant in the bone. Those vibrations stimulate nerve fibers in the inner ear that allow hearing," explains Gundersen Health System otolaryngologist Brian Sieck, MD. Dr. Sieck and otolaryngologist Michael Case, MD, perform Baha surgery at Gundersen.
People who may be candidates for the Baha include those with hearing loss caused by chronic ear infections, congenital conductive hearing loss and single-sided deafness. For more information, contact Gundersen Otolaryngology at (608) 775-2374 or (800) 362-9567, ext. 52374.