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What is a Bone Conduction Implant?

Shukri Abi • Aug 24, 2021

What is bone conduction hearing?


There are two pathways in which we can hear sound: air conduction and bone conduction. Air conduction is the most traditional pathway where sound travels through the ear canal to the middle and inner structures of the ear. This is the pathway traditional hearing aids utilise. 


Another method is using sound vibrations through the bones in our head. This is called bone conduction. These vibrations can bypass the outer and middle ear and travel directly to the inner ear, otherwise known as the cochlea. This can then be transformed into a message for our brain to interpret as sound. Both types of hearing can work together. 


How do bone conduction implants work?


Bone conduction implants can bypass the outer and middle ear structures to directly stimulate the cochlea. Bone conduction implants work by using your body’s natural ability to transduce sound through the structures of the bone, meaning these implants rely on your residual cochlear hearing to transduce sound. This often results in a more natural experience of amplification. 


A bone conduction implant has three parts:


  • The implant that is surgically inserted in the bone 
  • An abutment or magnet that connects the implants to the sound processor 
  • An external sound processor


Together, these bypass the areas in the hearing system that aren’t working, directly to the cochlea. Most bone anchored solutions also offer a non-surgical option where the external sound processor is anchored to the side of the head behind the ear with accessories such as a headband. 


Who are they suitable for?


Bone conduction implants are designed for people with conductive (outer and middle ear not transmitting sound correctly) or mixed hearing loss (a mix of conductive and cochlear hearing loss), as well as single sided hearing loss (complete hearing loss in one ear). Candidacy is best determined by your hearing care professional. 


What are the benefits?


Bone conduction aids can help in improving comfort of listening and clarity of speech in both noisy and quiet environments. They also avoid wearing anything inside the ear. 


A trial is often the first step in determining whether a bone anchored device will work for you. Contact us at Abi Hearing for more information. 

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