ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => AN Issues => Topic started by: Clifton on September 28, 2007, 11:23:39 pm
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How many of you have the BAHA hearing device?
My doctor began sharing information with me about it today.
Part of me wants to check it out..but what if somthing more technologically advanced comes out in the next few years and im stuck with it?
I dont know...does it actually work how it says it does?
Apparently from what i read, it actually emulates stereo hearing.
someone please shed some light for me on this topic.
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BAHA and any other aid for single sided deafness might emulate stereo but not an ability to locate direction 100%. All sound taken in through the processor gets routed over to the good ear. One cannot hear true stereo in one ear. The bones in the skull will sense sound 360 degrees but there is still only one working cochlea after Translab.
Maybe your doctor has a BAHA test band. BAHA is still a very good option for a person who is working and needs to hear what is happening on the deaf side. All hearing aids will improve as the technology grows and components get smaller. We have to buy newer, and better ones, and then upgrade (just like computers).
It is important not to wait too long to look into an aid. The brain needs the stimulous.
I believe TransEar is a good option. It is much less expensive than a BAHA. Insurance usually covers the surgery implant for BAHA, but sometimes the carrier does not pay for the unit itself. TransEar is covered if it is coded as a prosthetic device, or similar code.
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BAHA and any other aid for single sided deafness might emulate stereo but not an ability to locate direction 100%. All sound taken in through the processor gets routed over to the good ear. One cannot hear true stereo in one ear. The bones in the skull will sense sound 360 degrees but there is still only one working cochlea after Translab.
Maybe your doctor has a BAHA test band. BAHA is still a very good option for a person who is working and needs to hear what is happening on the deaf side. All hearing aids will improve as the technology grows and components get smaller. We have to buy newer, and better ones, and then upgrade (just like computers).
It is important not to wait too long to look into an aid. The brain needs the stimulous.
I believe TransEar is a good option. It is much less expensive than a BAHA. Insurance usually covers the surgery implant for BAHA, but sometimes the carrier does not pay for the unit itself. TransEar is covered if it is coded as a prosthetic device, or similar code.
always quick to offer me advice ;D
thank you.
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I have the BAHA too ... I'm glad I got it, it does help .. its NOT stereo hearing ... I treat it like my good shoes .... at home I dont wear it much because I'm working in the yard or fishing ... and put it (BAHA) on when I go to work or out to eat or something social ...its not my ear back ... but its better than having nothing!
the device last of about 5 years... ! implant stays in of course and I just plug in the newer and improved models !!
(http://image2.frappr.com/pics5/i/20060224/0/f/1/0f14a0e6477b1aa406415e3ad40652661_large.jpg)
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What Joef said...The BAHA works, sometimes I forget that I'm wearing it but when I forget to put it on I realize it right away. The surgery was easy, the maintenance has been simple, and my insurance paid for all of it. I just had to pay for the extended warranty. And do ask to try the headband
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I have never seen one before,thanks for the pic joef.
i think i will deal with ssd ,that thing looks wild.
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Ditto on what everyone else said. I have had mine for 9 months and at the moment it is not working. House clinic arranged for a "loamer" to be sent to me so I only went a couple of weeks without the BAHA. It is not perfect but I certainly missed it. The only problem i have is pain at the abuttement area. I have talked to Dr Brackmann about it and he says he has not heard that before.[ don't you love it when they say that ] anyway when I get the pain it is very accute, accute enough that I question having the BAHA. The sound quality reminds me of a pilot talking on the PA of an aircraft, [tinny] and there is no directional hearing. I still have to look around for the source of the sound. I guess it is better than nothing but the abuttment is permanent and you are concious for the proceedure, which I was not expecting. I was completely aware of the drill going into my skull and of the conversations the Dr's were having. I did not feel pain but I will never look at a "Black and Decker drill" the same way again. So as far as I am concerned The jury is still out.
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Lainie - You were awake for the surgery?! :o I was put to sleep. I remember going into the OR and the next minute I was in recovery. I don't think I could have handled being awake.
I sometimes get sore around the abutment but a little neosporin clears it right up.
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I've heard they do it both ways.. awake and out .. I had mine out since they did it at the same time as the AN ..
they like to do it while you awake since it is SOOO much easier for the body to recover if your not put out ...
ps... I had my eye weight surgery done while I was awake.. they gave me a local of course.. plus a seditive .
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Hi Pembo,
Yes I was completely awake and NOT sedated. I was given a shot and nothing happened, so they gave me another shot and same thing. I told the Dr's that I did not feel any different and thought they would give me something to tranqulise me but no. As I said I did not feel any pain but would rather not have been concious for it. The only plus was that there was nothing to recover from. The proceedure takes about 30-40 minutes. I also found out another "gem" last week my repaired BAHA arrived and I put it on and the problem had not been corrected, I called House clinic and the hearing specialist asked me if my abuttement was loose. I said " loose, you mean this thing can loosen" and she said yes. At this point I decided not to ask what is done if that happens. Mine is not loose and I just didn't want to go there.
Thanks for the suggestion of neosporin, but the pain is actually in my skull so I usually take tylenol or wait it out. The BAHA comes in different colors to match your hair and mine does not look as obtrusive as the one in the pic that was sent in. I have just ordered a new digital camera, when it arrives I will send a pic in of me wearing it.
Improvements are being made frequently with the BAHA, so I figure the number of years I will be using it, the technology can only get better. The repair and replacement insurance I have, also states that the BAHA will be replaced with the latest model.
Hope this helps.
Lainie [ The baha queen ]
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Lainie, I applaud your courage. I could never have had the abutment if I had to be awake. I was only asleep for 45 mins or so. I went in for surgery at 8 and I was home for lunch at 12 (after a 45 min ride home). I was just tired that day. I don't want to think about the abutment getting loose! Yuck.
I have longer hair and my stylist worked hard to cut it so that the layers hide my BAHA all the time. I too look forward to smaller and beter models of the BAHA in the future.
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(http://image2.frappr.com/pix2/i/20071002/6/e/d/6eda5970ad1b6b5402aad6501b60f1530_large.jpg)
Clifton,
Here is a pic of my BAHA. I have had it for 6 mts. I miss it the most when I forget to wear it.
Hope this helps,
Ellis
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Clifton -
I had a BAHA demo (with the headband) on 9/19 and am currently awaiting my insurance company's ruling on whether or not they will pay for the surgery and device (sure hope so). I was VERY impressed with the sound the BAHA provided.
I have personally seen and talked to a BAHA user and she loves it. I didn't even realize she had one until she mentioned it, because her hair totally covered it. From what I've heard, my hair should cover the device - and I wear it fairly short for a woman.
My neurotologist told me I have the option of a local anesthestic or "twilight" - where I wouldn't truly be awake, but wouldn't truly be asleep either. He said being awake for the procedure usually reminds patients of having a cavity filled at the dentist's office due to the sound of the drill and the lack of pain (due to the local). At this point I'm not sure which anesthetic I'll opt for. I've had surgery with twilight before and found it very frustrating since I could hear the docs talking, but couldn't respond to them.
You might want to see if your doctor can give you a demo, once your head is healed enough from the AN surgery.
Jan
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Boppie, I was told by 2 audiologist that they could not code the TransEar as a prostetic device. They had both called TransEar and been told by a lady that it is a hearing aid ..... anyway..... I don't know how the other people got someone to code it as a prostetic device. I was told by both places ( and neither company knew about the other ) that they could not use a prostetic code. One person told me ... because the insurance companies investigate and TransEar does not list it as a prosthetic... He said it was an ethics thing....
Long story short, I have to pay for all but $300 (what my insurance co. will cover) out of pocket for my TransEar.
Margaret
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I just picked up a trial baha unit. Given that transear is not in Oz yet, I am really struggling at work having to turn my head 180degrees all the time.
Be interesting to see the outcome.
cheers
laz
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Laz -
it would be great if you could give us your feedback after you've used the trial unit for a few days.
I would be very interested in your thoughts,
Jan
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Jan,
no probs.
i used it last night at home and without the baha, when I blocked my good ear, could virtually hear nothing, then doing the same but with the baha unit, I could hear - it was a little scary after so long with SSD.
I did think it interfered with my satellite tv reception but sometimes its hard to tell.
Joe, did you find it affected anything?
Laz
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I dont think it interferes with anything ...
feedback if I lean back to put in eye drops....(it hits my head)
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No interference here either. I do get the feedback if I lean my head against the couch or something. I usually take it off when I'm at home lounging though.
It was cool to use the trail headband and "hear" again.
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Thanks Laz, Joe, & Pembo for the input.
When I tried the demo in the doc's office, he had me plug my good ear with my finger and then he talked to me. I was so amazed that I could hear him! It brought a huge smile to my face ;D It was a great experience after hearing absolutely nothing out of my left ear for over 4 months now.
I'm very anxious to have the BAHA surgery. Keep your fingers crossed that my insurance company will pay for it. If I have to fight them, I may have to enlist Sam & Adrian to help me in my battle LOL
Jan
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I finished my Baha trial.
I fiund that it did improve my hearing - well, I could hear in my deaf side so that was great. Unfortunately, I couldn't trial it much because it was on a headband which was tight for obvious reasons and it played havoc with my headaches.
I discussed other options with the audiologist who suggested to wait until march 08 when the new digital bi-cross will be released.
That I will do coz I am still nervous about having an op after my last experience.
I must say though, the Baha unit did seem to work so may be a good option for a number of people.
Laz
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Margaret, my insurance company coded the TransEar as an aid that was "medically necessary due to a result of surgery and deafness", I paid about $300. The insurance paid the remainder.
I read that some people had gotten a pay out based on the prosthetic code. I don't know which insurance they had.
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hi !
wondering did anyone from Canada have a BAHA here in the forum. because my insurance wont pay for the surgery and my doctor said that I had to pay for it all. 4000$ taht alot of money!!!! :-\
julie
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Thanks Boppie, I will call my insurance co. and ask again (can't hurt to ask). Anyway, The TransEar really is helping and even if I have to pay for it... it helps make my teaching job a bit less stressful.
Margaret