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Bone Conduction Hearing Systems

At Dallas Ear Institute, we believe our patients should have options when considering hearing amplification. Our team participates in ongoing clinical trials and research projects, allowing us to offer leading technology and stay abreast of advancements.

What Is Bone Conduction?

Bone Conduction Hearing System

Before understanding how bone conduction systems work, it is important to understand the structure of the ear and how the natural pathway to hearing works. Sound waves enter the ear canal and impact the ear drum (tympanic membrane). The ear drum transmits sound wave vibrations through the chain of three middle ear bones known as the malleus, incus and stapes. The stapes passes the vibrations to the inner ear fluids within the cochlea (hearing organ). Fluid waves travel through the cochlea, bending the cochlea hair cells as it goes by. The hair cells correspond to the frequency of the original sound waves, initiating signals within their corresponding nerve endings prior to sending them to the brain.

  1. Sounds enter the ear canal and travel to the eardrum.
  2. These sound waves cause the eardrum to vibrate, setting the bones in the middle ear into motion.
  3. This motion is converted into electric impulses by tiny hair cells inside the inner ear (cochlea).
  4. These impulses are sent to the brain, where they are perceived by the listener as sound. 

Bone Conduction Hearing

Bone, like air, can also conduct sound vibrations. The body has the ability to transfer sound using the skull bone to the inner ear (cochlea). This pathway to perceive sound is called bone conduction.

When problems exist in the outer or middle ear, they can prevent or limit the flow of sound waves, restricting the sound waves from effectively conducting to the inner ear. In these cases, a bone conduction system is a solution that bypasses the outer and middle ear to send sound vibrations through the skull bone to the inner ear to provide hearing.

Who Can Benefit From a Bone Conduction System?

Patients with chronic middle ear conditions, outer ear problems, and congenital defects of the ear who cannot wear conventional hearing aids may be candidates for a bone conduction system.

Types of Bone Conduction Systems

Active Bone Conduction Systems

In an active bone conduction system, an implant is surgically placed in the bone behind the impaired ear and the skin fully heals over the implant. The external sound processor is held comfortably in place with a magnetic connection. The external sound processor picks up sound waves and transfers the signal to the implant. With an active transcutaneous bone conduction system, the sound vibrations are created directly by the implant and not by the external sound processor. Two types of active bone conduction systems are the Cochlear Osia and MED-EL Bonebridge.

Download BONEBRIDGE Brochure

Download Osia Brochure

Download Postoperative Care Instructions

Bone Anchored Hearing Systems

A bone anchored hearing system consists of:

  1. A small titanium implant that is surgically placed in the bone behind the impaired ear, which with time, will integrate into the bone.
  2. An abutment, which is the end of the implant that sticks out through the skin.
  3. A small sound processor that attaches to the abutment of the implant.
Bone Anchored Hearing System

The sound processor picks up sound waves via a microphone, transforms the received sounds into sound vibrations and sends them via the abutment and integrated implant through the skull to stimulate the inner ear.

The implant allows a direct connection between the sound processor and the bone (percutaneous bone conduction). This direct connection maintains the conduction of the sound, since the sound does not have to pass through skin and muscle, which can weaken the sound.

The bone anchored implant is FDA approved for children over the age of 5. The surgery is safe and simple. It is a proven and viable solution to helping people that cannot benefit from or use traditional hearing aids. It been used for over 40 years with about 200,000 individuals worldwide having been implanted with this hearing solution.

Download Oticon Medical Ponto Brochure

Download Cochlear Baha Brochure

Download Bone Anchored Post Operative Instructions

Cochlear Baha Attract System

Cochlear Baha Attract

Cochlear Baha Attract System

A magnetic bone conduction system is very similar to the bone anchored hearing system with an implant surgically placed in the bone behind the impaired ear, but instead of an abutment coming through the skin, there is a small metal magnetic plate under the skin. The skin fully heals over the metal plate and the external sound processor is held in placed with a magnetic connection. This system uses passive transcutaneous bone conduction, meaning the vibrations created by the external sound processor are transferred through the skin to the skull to stimulate the inner ear.

Download Osia Brochure

Download Postoperative Care Instructions

Non-surgical Bone Conduction Systems

Non-surgical bone conduction systems are suitable for individuals who are unwilling to undergo a surgery, individuals who do not meet minimum age requirements for surgery, individuals who may be faced with other surgeries that need to be prioritized (e.g., craniofacial procedures), or individuals who have a conductive hearing loss of uncertain duration that may ultimately resolve.

There are different non-surgical bone conduction options such as a softband option, hard headband option, or adhesive option (MED-EL ADHEAR).

Softband

The adjustable softband is simply worn around the head. When the sound processor is attached, it sends sound waves through the bone to the inner ear. The band is a soft, skin-friendly and non-allergenic material that can be adjusted for a close fit, designed to withstand the wear and tear of a child’s daily life while providing access to sounds for acquisition of speech and language.

Cochlear Soundarc

The Cochlear SoundArc is a hard headband with a modern look and easily adjustable for a secure and comfortable fit. It is simply worn across the back of the head with the sound processor positioned behind the ear, sending sound waves through the bone to the inner ear.

Download Cochlear Baha Pediatric Brochure

MED-EL ADHEAR

Med El Adhear

ADHEAR is a novel, effortless bone condition option. This non-surgical bone conduction system consists of two parts: a hearing device and an adhesive adapter. The thin adhesive adapter is placed on the skin behind the ear and can be easily replaced every 3 to 7 days. The hearing device snaps onto the adhesive adapter. Its microphones pick up sound and vibrates the adhesive adapter to transmit the sound through the skin to the bone on to the inner ear. This highly innovative technology provides transmission of sound without pressure on the skin.

Download ADHEAR Brochure