Comparisons of all the hearing devices

[Angie UK]

Hi there, as the user name implies I am in the UK, (I have posted on here before though!) so greetings all!

I had retrosigmoid surgery in 2011, followed by a Sub Total Petrosectomy and Blind Sac Closure surgery due to a CSF Leak.  As a result I dont actually have an ear canal on the AN side.  I have done some research into the different sorts of hearing aids available, but believe I am restricted to only a BAHA owing to the lack of ear canal to sit the bit-that-goes-in-the-ear... sorry, cant think what its called!

Can anyone give me a low down on all the different ones, and where and how you wear them?  Here in the UK, information is scarce, and although I can find some of the hearing aids themselves, the websites dont tend to go into detail about where & how you wear them, so I cant figure out what I could or couldn't have.  I know in the US you can call your surgeon to ask them, but you cant do that here... you have to start with your GP & wait for specialist referrals from there.  I thought I would get a far quicker, & I bet more informed response, on here.

Any help would be hugely appreciated!

Cheers
Angie

[CHD63]

Hi Angie .....

From my layman's knowledge, you have basically two choices ..... a bone-anchored device, which entails an abutment in the skull (either an Oticon Medical Ponto or Cochlear BAHA) or a SoundBite (made by Sonitus), which is bone conduction through an appliance on your teeth.  Sophonos makes a magnetic hearing device, which entails implanting a magnet under the skin of the skull.  However, there seems to be a difference of opinion as to whether it is safe during MRIs, which we AN people need to have.

http://www.oticonmedical.com/
http://www.cochlear.com/wps/wcm/connect/us/home/home
http://www.sonitusmedical.com/product/
http://sophono.com/

Clarice

[Paul F]

The UK has a great site for BAHA users.  Here's the link.

http://www.baha-users-support.com/

There are also hearing aids available for people with SSD.  They are referred to as Cros aids and made by two separate company's.  I wear a Phonak Bi-Cros which amounts to a transceiver over the SSD ear and a matched hearing aid on the better side.  The Ear Foundation has lots of info so check out the website.

Hope this helps.

[maxine]

Hi,
 
I'll put in a good word for the Trans Ear.  Here's the link for it in the UK:

"TransEar is presently available only in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Colombia, and Costa Rica.

UK & Ireland: Puretone, Ltd. (http://www.puretone.net) is the TransEar distributor for the UK and Ireland. Enquiries may be sent to info@puretone.net or phone 1634 719427."   Here 's the link to the website: http://www.transear.com/

Basically, you wear it in your deaf ear and it sends  vibrations to your good ear, enabling you to hear a lot better than without it, if not perfectly, especially in noisy environments.  It's important to have the initial fitting done by someone who has some experience in taking the molds that are used to create your individual device.  There is no surgery involved.  I'm happy to answer any questions you might have about it. I've worn mine about six months.

maxine

[Angie UK]

Very many thanks all,  this all really helps.  Will do some research now based on this. 

Thanks again all x

[stephSF]

Sound bite is removable, has a docking/ charging station.  I like how it works.  I am going back for an adjustment next month to see if they can turn it up a little.  .

[nftwoed]

Hi Angie .....

From my layman's knowledge, you have basically two choices ..... a bone-anchored device, which entails an abutment in the skull (either an Oticon Medical Ponto or Cochlear BAHA) or a SoundBite (made by Sonitus), which is bone conduction through an appliance on your teeth.  Hi Clarice;
   Just a brief mention; At Mayo Clinic, they are now performing MRIs w/o removing the CI. They do power the machine back some.


Sophonos makes a magnetic hearing device, which entails implanting a magnet under the skin of the skull.  However, there seems to be a difference of opinion as to whether it is safe during MRIs, which we AN people need to have.

http://www.oticonmedical.com/
http://www.cochlear.com/wps/wcm/connect/us/home/home
http://www.sonitusmedical.com/product/
http://sophono.com/

Clarice