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Bone-anchored hearing aids are made to work on what is known as bone conduction, which transmits sound from the person's inner ear through the skull bones. This kind of hearing aid is often used by people who have experienced types of hearing loss that does not allow them to hear using the more common forms of hearing aids.

Hearing loss that is known as conductive occurs when people have problems processing sound waves along the ear canal. It is one type of hearing loss for which bone conduction is an option for hearing devices. Bone-anchored hearing aids are also helpful for people who have suffered unilateral hearing loss, or hearing loss in one ear.

The bone-anchored hearing aid involves surgical implantation of a device into the patient's skull, with a small post visible on the outside of the skin. A sound processing device is placed on this post, which allows for sound to travel through the bones of the skull and vibrate the patient's inner ear. Once the inner ear is vibrating, hearing can take place.

The hearing aid is known as 'bone-anchored' because the surrounding bone grows around the implant without a soft tissue layer in a process known as osseointegration. Osseointegration can take several months to complete, but once it has, the bone-anchored hearing aid can be used.

The surgery to perform the implantation process has typically been risky. Advancements in the surgery have been made, however, allowing for smaller incisions and less invasive procedures. Currently many patients are able to complete their surgery in a few hours under local anesthesia. For children or infants who need the procedure, physicians will usually perform it in two stages, one in which they drill the holes into the skull behind the ear, then allow the skull to grow and for osseointegration to occur, and perform a second surgery in which the implant is made.

The aftermath for the patient in receiving a bone-anchored hearing aid has been the constant risk of infection. Patients with bone-anchored hearing aids must be sure to keep the skin around their implant clean, and to apply antibacterial ointment every day.

Unfortunately, many of the bone-anchored hearing aid sound devices are fragile, and anyone who has one should be careful not to break or damage it. In the event that this happens, however, the companies that manufacture them have a warranty and replacement policy. The patient's audiologist may have devices that can be loaned until the repair or replacement is complete.

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What test is used for comparing bone and air-conduction hearing?

Audiometry test is used to compare bone and air-conduction hearing. This test measures a person's hearing ability by presenting tones of various pitches and volumes through headphones or bone-conduction devices. By comparing the results of bone conduction (testing the inner ear) and air conduction (testing the outer and middle ear), healthcare providers can assess the type and degree of hearing loss a person may have.


What test is used for comparing bone and air conduction?

Audiometry is used to compare bone and air conduction. It measures the threshold at which a person can hear pure tones through bone and air conduction. The results help diagnose hearing loss and determine the type of hearing loss present.


Which hearing test compares bone and air conduction of sound waves?

The Rinne test compares bone and air conduction of sound waves in the ear. It involves placing a tuning fork on the mastoid bone behind the ear and then in front of the ear to assess the difference in perception through bone versus air conduction.


Why is it the air conduction is longer than the bone conduction?

Air conduction is slower than bone conduction because sound waves need to travel through the air, which is less dense compared to bone. In bone conduction, sound vibrations can directly stimulate the cochlea in the inner ear through the bones of the skull, bypassing the need to travel through the air.


Do sound waves travel down the auditory canal by bone conduction?

No, sound waves travel down the auditory canal through air conduction. Bone conduction involves vibrations traveling through bones to the inner ear, bypassing the outer and middle ear.

Related Questions

What test is used for comparing bone and air-conduction hearing?

Audiometry test is used to compare bone and air-conduction hearing. This test measures a person's hearing ability by presenting tones of various pitches and volumes through headphones or bone-conduction devices. By comparing the results of bone conduction (testing the inner ear) and air conduction (testing the outer and middle ear), healthcare providers can assess the type and degree of hearing loss a person may have.


What test is used for comparing bone and air conduction?

Audiometry is used to compare bone and air conduction. It measures the threshold at which a person can hear pure tones through bone and air conduction. The results help diagnose hearing loss and determine the type of hearing loss present.


What is the difference conductive deafness and sensorineural deafness?

Conductive Loss - Normal hearing for bone conduction scores ([ & ]), and showing a hearing loss for Air Conduction scores (X &O) Sensorineural Loss- Hearing loss (equally) for both air and bone conduction


If a hearing threshold were at 50 dB HL by air conduction and 5 dB HL by bone conduction what type of hearing loss exists?

This pattern indicates a conductive hearing loss. The air-bone gap of 45 dB suggests that there is a problem conducting sound through the middle ear. Bone conduction thresholds are normal, which means the inner ear (cochlea) is functioning properly.


Which hearing test compares bone and air conduction of sound waves?

The Rinne test compares bone and air conduction of sound waves in the ear. It involves placing a tuning fork on the mastoid bone behind the ear and then in front of the ear to assess the difference in perception through bone versus air conduction.


Does bone conduction cause hearing loss?

not they i have ever heard of. i guess it depends where it is


Why is it the air conduction is longer than the bone conduction?

Air conduction is slower than bone conduction because sound waves need to travel through the air, which is less dense compared to bone. In bone conduction, sound vibrations can directly stimulate the cochlea in the inner ear through the bones of the skull, bypassing the need to travel through the air.


Which one bone or air conducts sound more loudly?

Air conduction is more efficient than bone conduction, although conduction through bone may be "heard" more loudly because it is a direct conduction into the middle ear and there is a component of "feeling" the sound with bone conduction.


What is Rinne test?

a hearing test comparing perception of air and bone conduction in one ear with a tuning fork, normally air conduction is more acute


What has the author E H Huizing written?

E. H Huizing has written: 'Bone conduction' -- subject(s): Ear, Hearing


Do sound waves travel down the auditory canal by bone conduction?

No, sound waves travel down the auditory canal through air conduction. Bone conduction involves vibrations traveling through bones to the inner ear, bypassing the outer and middle ear.


What are the different types of implanted hearing devices available for individuals with hearing loss?

There are three main types of implanted hearing devices for individuals with hearing loss: cochlear implants, bone-anchored hearing aids (BAHA), and middle ear implants. Cochlear implants are surgically implanted devices that directly stimulate the auditory nerve. BAHA devices use bone conduction to bypass the outer and middle ear, transmitting sound vibrations directly to the inner ear. Middle ear implants are surgically placed in the middle ear to amplify sound vibrations.