An auditory osseointegrated implant (AOI) — commonly referred to as a Baha — is a treatment option for some people with hearing loss who are unable to wear or achieve adequate benefit from traditional hearing aids.

Patients wear only a small device (processor) on the mastoid bone of the ear with the hearing loss. The processor detects sound, including speech, that occurs on the side with hearing loss. It then converts the sound into gentle vibrations that are conducted through the bone to the inner ear. These vibrations are not felt, but instead perceived as sound, allowing you to better hear and understand the speech of others.

Is an Auditory Osseointegrated Implant Right for Me?

If you or your child have hearing loss, your primary care doctor or pediatrician will refer you to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor for a comprehensive assessment. You or your child may be a good candidate for an auditory osseointegrated implant for the following reasons:

• For conductive and mixed hearing loss
  • You or your child have deficits of the middle and/or outer ear that cannot be corrected with medical therapy and/or surgery.
  • A conventional hearing aid is not recommended due to a chronically draining ear, a high risk of repeat ear infections or other issues.
  • You or your child cannot benefit sufficiently from a conventional hearing aid.
• For single-sided sensorineural hearing loss
  • You or your child have hearing loss in one ear and are unable to understand speech even when it is amplified through a hearing aid.

What Can I Expect During an AOI/Baha Evaluation?

• You will learn more about how the device works, what it looks like and what to expect (and not to expect) with use.
• You or your child will have a chance to experience firsthand what the device offers and have all of your questions answered.
• Specialists will help you make a fully informed decision about whether an auditory osseointegrated implant is the best option for you. They will also determine which AOI processor will be most appropriate for your or your child's hearing loss.

Rush Excellence in Auditory Osseointegrated Implants

• Expertise and experience: Our auditory implant specialists have extensive experience and provide expert consultation for adults and children with hearing loss. This includes efforts to fit you with the right auditory osseointegrated implant and optimize your ability to communicate.
• A patient-centered approach: Our auditory implant team is committed to providing outstanding care tailored to meet your needs and to ensuring that every visit goes as smoothly as possible. Friendly, courteous staff members provide support for you and your family throughout the process, from answering questions to helping address insurance issues.
• High satisfaction from our patients: Audiologists at Rush are known for their outstanding customer service. Our communication disorders services, which include audiology, receive consistently high patient satisfaction scores according to Press Ganey, an organization that partners with health care facilities nationwide to measure the quality of care, including patient satisfaction.
• Nationally recognized care: The ENT program at Rush is ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.