Single Sided Headphones/ear buds

[ANGuy]

That's great.  I was a little worried that maybe they were having production issues or something like that. 

[Loreley]

Hi everyone,
I'm new to all of this so have to ask a very newbie question.
I currently have CROSS aids but am seriously considering a BAHA.
I would have thought with the BAHA that you wouldn't need to have a single merged ear piece?
Obviously still grappling with lots and can't get my head around much of it at present so please excuse dumb questions.

[CHD63]

Hi Loreley .....

The BAHA (either an Oticon Medical Ponto or Cochlear baha) is a bone-conducted hearing system.  It receives sound through the processor placed on your deaf side (through a bone-anchored abutment) and sends the sound via bone conduction to your hearing ear side.  Therefore, all sound is actually heard/perceived through one ear.  Both Oticon Medical and Cochlear have new models with bluetooth capabilities.  See:  http://www.oticonmedical.com/Medical/OurProducts/wireless/ponto-streamer.aspx#.VvfCURIrJmA  for the Ponto version.

If you want to use earbuds and you are totally deaf on one side, you would still need a single merged ear piece.

Hope that helps explain a bit.

Clarice

[alabamajane]

Hi Loreley,
Clarice gave you a good explanation of the BAHA system,, but as you are so new to all of this and seem confused,, I though I would just add this. I don't mean to sound like I am talking "down" to you,, just trying to be helpful.

The BAHA , either brand, does not sit in your ear like a hearing aid. It sits on an abutment (little connecter)that is attached to a screw that is implanted into the skull right behind your deaf ear. The BAHA processor that you attach sends surrounding sound through the bone to your good ear to actually hear it. Your deaf ear does nothing.

So that is why they are asking about a single earbud.
I hope this helps a little. (I have the Cochlear brand). It is a hard concept to understand for all of us.

Jane

[Loreley]

Aha ok that now makes sense, so many concepts to get my head around.
Thanks so much

[Loreley]

Have ordered a new pair of ear buds, so miss my music and meditations, playing them out loud just isn't the same.

[Kristena]

I really enjoy my SSD earbud, and I've recommended it to several people. So nice to have that full sound when I'm out walking the dog. And my Baha can still pick up sounds of traffic, etc., so it's actually safer than those with two earbuds!   

[Smedina]

I don't know whether this has been covered before, but with the various "i" products, it's possible to enable "Mono" audio in the settings, basically turning off the stereo sound and reviving all of those headphones. You can find this in Settings--> General-->  Accessibility--> scroll down to Hearing.

I'm sure the Android world has something similar, also.

I recently ordered a Bluetooth ear bud on Amazon,(E.g. Axgio Mini Pro). The prices have come down a lot,  and I'm pleasantly surprised by the performance. It's nice not to have to deal with any wires.

[DaisyJane]

Ultimate Ears makes a custom-molded single-sided ear piece. Ultimate Ears is a company that has made professional in-ear monitors for touring musicians. I have used their products for over a decade both in a performance setting and as my regular headphones, and I am so grateful they make a custom SS earpiece (with cable). http://pro.ultimateears.com/products/custom-monitors/ue-1-pro