Frequently Asked Questions

Can I try a Baha sound processor before making up my mind? You most certainly can! It can be attached to a test band or test rod in the office where you can experience for yourself how it will sound. Should you decide that you'd like to pursue the Baha, further specialized testing will be scheduled for you to determine potential benefit with the device.

Can I wear a Baha all the time? You can wear it for all normal activities, but you should take off the sound processor before going to sleep, taking showers or doing water sports. You may need to wear special protection for contact sports.

When can I go back to work after surgery? You should be able to go home the same day. Most people prefer to take an extra day off work before resuming their normal activities. However, in most cases you may return to work on the advice of your surgeon.

Do children with a Baha need special care? Children using Baha can be taught to clean the abutment just as they are taught to clean their teeth. You will know when they are ready to take responsibility for their own daily routine. In the US only, children aged five and older are cleared by the FDA for implantation, but younger children can use a Baha with a Softband.

Is a Baha compatible with mobile phones? Yes, all Baha sound processors can be used with GSM or other mobile phones. But you should never hold the phone against the sound processor itself, since this could cause feedback problems. A telecoil unit can be used with any Baha to improve the sound quality of an ordinary phone that is fitted with a loop or a coil.

How many people have received a Baha to date? Many thousands of people have been treated so far. Over the last 10 years, Baha has become a treatment of choice for thousands of hearing impaired people worldwide, and the numbers of Baha users are increasing rapidly.

CLICK HERE to see Cochlear™'s Baha Brochure.

Illustrations and technical information provided by Cochlear™.

Baha® Implants

When you have a hearing loss it is important to find a solution that perfectly matches your needs. And certain conditions – such as conductive hearing loss, mixed hearing loss and single-sided sensorineural deafness – may be best treated with a Baha system. Peconic ENT is the only facility on the eastern end of Long Island to perform the Baha procedure and fit the Baha Processor devices. Our highly trained staff of Physicians, Audiologists and Hearing Aid Specialists is able to identify candidates for the procedure based on audiological test results and subjective symptoms. The Physicians and Audiology staff work as a team to identify potential candidates, perform all the necessary testing and make a final diagnosis. The audiology staff stays up to date with the latest technological upgrades and has the most advanced Baha processors available.

Baha Implant Patient
Tara Gatz (center), 12, talks about the upcoming completion of her hearing implant with
Peconic Ear Nose and Throat audiologist Jennifer Lohr and Dr. Kevin Braat.

The Baha® System utilizes your body’s natural ability to conduct sound.

Bone, like air, can conduct sound vibrations. For people with hearing loss, this provides another pathway to perceive sound. Typical hearing aids rely on air conduction and a functioning middle ear.

In cases where the middle ear function is blocked, damaged or occluded, the Baha system may be a better option as it bypasses the outer and middle ear altogether. Instead, sound is sent around the damaged or problematic area, naturally stimulating the cochlea through bone conduction.

Baha System Conducts Sound

Once the cochlea receives these sound vibrations, the organ ‘hears’ in the same manner as through air conduction; the sound is converted into neural signals and is transferred to the brain, allowing a Baha recipient to perceive sound.

Who is a Baha® candidate?

Any of the following types of hearing loss are ideal for treatment with a Baha system.

Conductive hearing loss (outer or middle ear problems)

In cases where the outer or middle ear is blocked, conventional hearing aids increase the amplification until the sound is forced through the blockage. But this is just like turning your stereo up too loud; the higher the volume, the more distorted and uncomfortable the sound becomes. Rather than using power to penetrate the damaged area, the Baha re-routes the signal directly through the skull bone to the inner ear. This helps to avoid distortion and feedback, as well as discomfort from large, tight-fitting ear molds.

Mixed hearing losses (both middle and inner ear problems)

This condition involves complications both in the outer or middle ear and the inner ear. By conducting the sound through the skull bone, the Baha bypasses any outer/middle-ear problems, so it only has to address the inner-ear component of the hearing loss. With direct access to the cochlea, the Baha can apply just the right amount of amplification to fit your listening needs. The outcome is less distortion and feedback, and greater listening comfort.

Single-sided sensorineural deafness (total deafness in one ear)

This condition makes even the simplest everyday situations very challenging. With only half the input it becomes difficult to locate sounds, and even harder to hear and understand speech when it is coming from the deaf side.Recent studies* have demonstrated that Baha is the most universally-effective solution for SSD. Baha transfers sound directly to the healthy cochlea, making it possible to hear sounds from both sides.

Why do People Choose Baha®?

One of the benefits of choosing Baha is that you can ask your hearing care professional for a Baha demonstration, so you can hear the difference yourself. Many people are surprised by the amount of hearing improvement that the Baha delivers.

These are some of the top reasons why people make the decision to go with Baha.

Direct Bone Conduction allows the recipient to hear sounds more clearly and naturally.
Potential recipients can easily test the Baha so that they can experience the benefits before they have surgery.
The Baha is comfortable to wear; recipients say that they forget that they have it on.
The Baha is in use by thousands of individuals around the world. The outcomes are predictable and well documented.
The Baha procedure is reversible and does not damage or harm residual hearing. Additionally, the Baha system does not preclude any benefits from future hearing technological advances because it doesn’t compromise middle or inner ear or compromise hearing nerve sensitivity.

Is Baha® Right for You?

If the Baha system sounds like the right solution for your hearing impairment, contact us at Peconic Ear Nose and Throat. We understand that the process of determining whether or not Baha is right for you is a personal and professional decision; we will provide you with expert advice to guide you on your way to your best hearing solution.

Once identified as a potential candidate, (see Who Is a Baha® Candidate) the staff discusses the Baha as an option with the patient. An in-office demonstration of the device is performed to give the patient an idea of what the actual processor would sound like. Should the patient be interested in pursuing the Baha further, special testing is scheduled with the audiologist or hearing aid dispenser to identify the potential benefit with the device. Pending the outcome of the testing, the patient is then scheduled with Dr. Braat for final approval for the surgery. Once approved, and if the patient decides to go ahead with the procedure, the audiology staff looks into insurance reimbursement for the patient. If authorization is provided, then the surgical procedure is scheduled. Many insurance companies cover the cost of the surgery and the processor. The only out-of-pocket expense to the patient is a $500 dispensing fee, paid prior to the surgery date. Approximately 6-8 weeks after surgery, the Baha processor is dispensed. The staff then works closely with the patient to make sure that the processor settings are satisfactory, undergoing testing and adjustments as necessary.

CLICK HERE to see Articles on Peconic ENT and Baha implants.