Many hearing loss treatments can bring you relief and boost your quality of life. As you evaluate your options, your audiologist may bring up surgical hearing devices. This can raise questions about whether they’re right for you.
As a patient, you deserve to make informed decisions about hearing loss treatment options. Use this hearing implant surgery guide to compare BAHA vs. cochlear implants and learn more.
Understanding Surgical Hearing Devices: What Are They and How Do They Work?
Compared to external hearing aids, surgical devices are more intensive. They must be surgically implanted to transmit sound and amplify your hearing.
The two main types of surgical hearing aids are cochlear implants and bone-anchored hearing aids (BAHAs). Surgically-implanted hearing systems route sound around the damaged parts of your ears, allowing you to hear the world around you.
Cochlear Implants: How They Work & Who They Help
Your cochlea rests in your inner ear, which is the deepest part of your natural hearing system. The cochlea is responsible for transforming sounds into signals that your auditory nerve can then pass on to your brain.
How Cochlear Implants Transmit Sounds
Cochlear implants consist of an external sound processor and the implanted receiver. The sound processor rests behind your ear and transmits audio from your environment to the internal receiver. The implanted receiver then stimulates the auditory nerve directly, taking on the role of a healthy cochlea.
Cochlear Implant Candidacy
If you have inner ear damage with a non-functioning cochlea, a cochlear implant can help.
These implants allow your brain to receive the auditory signals it needs to interpret sound. They work best for patients with severe hearing loss and extensive inner ear damage.
Bone-Anchored Hearing Systems (BAHS/BAHA)
Bone-anchored hearing aids are surgical hearing devices that work differently from cochlear implants. These implanted systems conduct sound and transmit it to your cochlea using your skull bones.
Sound Transmission Using Your Skull Bones
BAHAs bypass a damaged outer or middle ear to help the cochlea receive sound waves. Unlike cochlear implants, BAHAs don’t directly stimulate the auditory nerve. Your cochlea still does the legwork; the bone-anchored hearing system simply helps sound waves get to it.
Ideal Candidates for BAHS
Bone-anchored hearing systems work best for patients with single-sided deafness and conductive hearing loss. Conductive loss occurs when sound waves have trouble getting to your inner ear due to outer or middle ear damage. Chronic ear infections can cause this kind of damage.
If you have ear damage or problems processing sound waves, BAHAs help the waves get to where they need to go for clear hearing and speech.
Candidacy Requirements & Medical Evaluations
Qualified hearing professionals can assess your case and perform tests to ensure your treatment meets your needs.
The main factors that determine candidacy for surgical hearing treatments are:
- Degree of hearing loss (moderate to severe)
- Speech clarity
- Ear-related medical problems
- Age
- Commitment to your treatment plan
If hearing problems are getting in the way of socializing, learning, and enjoying your daily life, you may be a good candidate.
Who Is Not a Good Candidate?
Patients with mild to moderate hearing loss often benefit from other options. You may not be eligible if you have certain ear anatomy issues or existing medical conditions.
Professional Evaluation and Hearing Tests
An experienced audiologist will review your case to determine whether you’re a good candidate.
This is a multi-visit process that usually requires:
- In-depth hearing testing
- Ear imaging
- Medical clearance for surgery
- Insurance reviews
- Trying non-surgical hearing solutions first
Your audiologist may collaborate with other medical providers to provide the best, safest hearing care possible.
Benefits vs. Risks of Surgical Hearing Options
Surgical hearing devices can be incredibly beneficial, but they also come with risks.
The benefits include:
- Improved hearing
- Better speech
- Easier interpersonal communication
- Better quality of life
- Early intervention for pediatric speech and hearing issues
For folks with severe hearing loss and ear damage, surgical implants can be life-changing in the best way.
Some of the downsides and risks of surgical implantation include:
- Potential infections
- Surgery recovery time
- Ear pain (usually temporary)
- Swelling and fluid buildup at the implantation site
- Tinnitus
- Changes in taste, balance, and coordination
Your audiologist will weigh the benefits against the potential risks to help you make the best decision for your hearing needs.
What to Expect From the Surgical Process
Hearing implant surgery is an outpatient procedure, meaning you go home after the operation. You’ll go under general anesthesia to ensure a pain-free experience.
Once you’re asleep, the surgeon makes a small cut behind your ear(s) and implants the necessary electronics that communicate with the sound processor you wear on the outside.
After surgery, you’ll receive post-operative instructions to help you clean and heal the incision.
Implant Activation and Programming
After about three weeks, you’ll start the programming process with your audiologist.
During the activation and programming phase, your audiologist will work with you to improve your hearing and speech. Your brain will start to interpret sounds correctly over time.
Follow-Up Appointments
Follow-up programming appointments take place every six months to a year after the initial phase. Your audiologist will make any necessary programming adjustments to keep you on the right track.
Alternatives to Hearing Implant Surgery
Non-surgical hearing options include advanced external hearing aids and assistive listening devices. These are less invasive and can significantly improve your hearing, speech, and social life.
If the underlying cause of your hearing loss is medical, some medications can improve your hearing over time. Consult your audiologist to explore non-surgical hearing options first.
When to Consider Surgery
You should consider surgical hearing devices if you:
- Have difficulty understanding speech
- Cannot communicate with others
- Struggle to speak
- Feel out of touch with your environment
- Have severe, progressive hearing loss
- Have tried other treatments with little to no improvement
- Have single-sided deafness
- Are in good general health
You deserve to feel connected to your environment, and surgical hearing devices can help you reach that goal.
Thinking About Surgical Hearing Aids? Get a Professional Evaluation at Happy Ears Hearing Center
If you’re looking for experienced Arizona hearing implant specialists, Happy Ears Hearing Center can provide top-quality collaborative hearing care. We maintain partnerships with trusted hearing device manufacturers and offer long-term support for every patient.
Are you curious about surgical hearing treatments? We’re here to help you find the best solution. Book an evaluation with us to get started!
