ANA Discussion Forum
Archive => Archives => Topic started by: Captain Deb on September 03, 2006, 04:32:06 pm
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Just wondering how many people on this forum have pursued, or intend to pursue, a "solution" to SSD via the BAHA (bone anchored hearing aid) or some type of cross aid technology. Nate's comments on the Phonak Cross Link have piqued my interest. Although I'm self-employed and work at home (when I can work?) I find myself avoiding such things as social situations, walking my dog on my one-lane dirt mountain road, and going to concerts as a direct result of my SSD (and I really think the "hearing preservation rates" reported by the docs are exaggerated, but don't get me started on THAT one.) One of the things I'm looking forward to at the Symposium in Philly is getting to test-drive a few of these thingies.
Capt Deb 8)
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Stupid question... what is SSD?
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Single-sided deafness. Not a dumb question. Only the ones we don't ask are dumb!
BrendaO
Deb,
I avoid social situations, loud places, too many people at my home at once, lots of things that didn't bother me at all. When is the thing in Philly? I need something....I hate beating myself up over something I didn't ask for and don't want to live with.
BrendaO
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I have a little block of plastic that comes with the BAHA that it "plugs" into ... and one holds the BAHA against your head .. and voila! sound... it lets others try the BAHA .. I'll bring to the Symposium if I go and to our brunch at Maxwells.
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Ken and I are seeing the doctor on Friday to talk about the Baha, they will let him wear the device on a head band over the week end and test drive it. We hope that it will be something worth going through another surgery for, we have lots of questions. I'll let you know how it goes. Jeanie
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Brendalu--The ANA Symposium is next summer--should be more on the ANA Website (Click on logo in upper right of screen)
Capt Deb 8)
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I'm waiting on clearance (hoping it comes this week) from the ENT to let me get tested/processed, whatever they call it, for the cross. I don't think I could handle the baha very well. I don't like to wear hats so can't imagine something screwed into my head. Will be interesting to find out since like everyone else I hate being out in public places. I've almost walked out in front of cars a few times..can't hear them and if I turn my head to look I fall down :o(
Brendalu..no question is a bad question except the one not asked. SSD stands for single sided deafness and social security disablity depending on which thread you're on :o) :-*
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SSD also stands for "Sweet Sassy Diva" right, Batty? But we won't go there on this thread!
Capt Deb 8)
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I wish they would sell the test band. I tried it for a week and while it was not same sound quality as an implant, I found it helpful.  I am not a candidate for the BAHA due to extreme head sensitivity. In fact my sunglasses and reading glasses all have a missing arm.
I remember putting on the test band for the first time, with a plug in my good ear and could hear my husband talking to me on my bad side. A very emotional moment :'( ÂÂ
I did e-mail Entific asking if I could buy one, and they said "not at this time".  My audiologist says the same. I am sure they are very expensive and my insurance probably wouldn't cover it.
I also avoid many social situations. I find it distressing and heck of alot of work. I do however go to rock concerts. (but I always wear protection)
Cheryl
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Just in case it needs saying, the fundamental weakness for those with SSD
is that they/I/we cannot easily tell where sound is coming from
it follows that roads/carparks/trains or any traffic situations are quite dangerous
- you might hear the car that runs you down - But you didnt work out
a) it was behind you and b) it was approaching quickly
Equally, the car driver wont assume you cant hear him......
Some say the BAHA improves the sense of sound for direction/proximity,
perhaps some of the BAHA operators on the list could confirm/deny
Best Regards
Tony
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I would say the BAHA does not help with direction .. at least with nerve deafness , if anything it makes it worse ... I used be able to spin my head .. and based of the loudness if the sound, take a good guess of direction .. with the BAHA on .. I have sound it all directions!, so spinning does not help! I've read if you have good working inner ears, but bad outer ear (bad eardrum etc..) .. and get the BAHA it DOES get you direction ablity .. overall I like the BAHA .. if you are a "gadgit" person and are not vane about you looks ( I've gotten strange looks from people because they dont know what it is!) , I dont have anything in my ears, with long hair you can realy hide it .. but cant wear a hat with it ..(when fishing etc, I leave the BAHA home anyway). I home a I don't always wear it (because I lie on the coach on that side while watching TV) but it the office at work I really like it ... no more huh? can you say that again .. and I can go to a meeting and no worry about where I sit ...
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Hi
I have a BAHA and have had it for 2 years. I really like it and think it helps. It gets better with time especially the directional hearing. Its like my brain is learning to distinguish the different sounds and attach it to that side. However, large group social outing are still difficult, I think it is just noise overload on the system and my brain. My brain is trying to determine sound but also balance which is difficult when in a situation with multiple distractions. I have become more comfortable in social situation and try to place myself in a way to maximize my hearing, the people that know me understand my movements, but those that don't give me strange looks but that really does not bother me. I think part of it is just getting out there in social situations so that your brain can start to adapt to situations, the brain is an amazing thing. I am glad I have my baha and would do it again, the surgery is very short (30min). I had mine with just local anesthesia because I did not want to be put out again, the sound was strange but it really did not hurt.
Good luck
Cheryl
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Good morning to everyone. I'm a newbie to this board, and before I post my reply let me announce up front that I'm G.M. of Ear Technology Corp, manufacturer of the TransEar bone conduction hearing aid, released late last year. I've noted a number of posts related to CROS aids and BAHA, but no mention of TransEar. Capt. Deb's post about pursuing a solution to SSD was one of many that leads me to believe members of ANA are not aware that TransEar exists. It is approved by the FDA exclusively for unilateral hearing loss, it does not occlude the good ear (since the oscillator sits in the dead ear), and it is non-surgical. It can be fit by any audiologist who can take deep canal impressions, and it has a trial period like air conduction hearing aids have. Our web site, www.transear.com, has more information, as well as a video shot by an Albany, NY TV station. It's of an AN patient who was the first to be fit with a TransEar, and it should be very enlightening to members of this board. I'll be pleased to field any questions on or off list, and I hope members will see this post as informative rather than spam.
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Very interesting. How afordable is it? Because it is an aid, most of our insurance cos will not pay for it. Kathy
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TransEar is typically priced like a high-end digital hearing aid (which it is, except for the oscillator part that we call the transfer unit), and that will vary from area to area and audiologist to audiologist. You are probably correct that insurance is not likely to pay for TransEar here in the U.S., at least for now.
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Transear looks looks and sounds cool BUT I dont like it, I get the "AS SOLD ON T.V." feeling when reading about it. I would be more than willing to try it but I wouldnt pay anything till more reviews are out. ???
Nate the PC Tech
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Transearexpert,
I would like to know how well it works for SSD with severe continual tinnitus.
Patti UT
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I would like to know that also. I thought that you had to have the 8th cranial nerve for any sound to come across. I am totally in the dark.
BrendaO
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There is no clinical evidence yet that suggests TransEar as a tinnitus reduction device. At least one neuro-otologist disagrees, but until we see the evidence, our official position is that it is not indicated for mitigating tinnitus.
To answer question #2, TransEar works exactly like BAHA but without surgery, through bone conduction. Instead of driving a receiver/speaker, our hearing aid processor drives an oscillator which sits in a hard shell in the dead ear. That shell has a long canal, thus carrying the oscillations to the bony portion of the ear canal, which is covered by only a very thin layer of skin. The shell is made by laser from a scanned image of the impression of the ear, as fit and comfort are important issues. Each TransEar is a custom product, and the transfer unit has the owners initials embedded in it.
Since TransEar was new in 2005, I am not aware of any studies comparing it to BAHA. I'm sure there will be at least one by the end of 2006, however. The key difference is of course, surgery. Both BAHA and TransEar are good products, but they are not indicated for the same conditions, except for SSD.
I hope this answers the two questions recently posted.
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transearexpert,
I am not so concerned with wheather or not the trans ear would be a tinnitus reduction device (but wouldn't that be a miricle) but how well it would work for someone who suffers from tinniuts. One of the bigest issues for people with the tinnitus is background noises muffling out speach we are trying to hear. Something that amplifies or conducts all of the sound around us may not be of help, would the trans ear send all sounds throught he bone or just the speach?? I am just starting to explore the possibilites of a hearing air and am not very familiar with all the different types and what they do. I just know that amplifing would not be of help to me, although I hve SSD and tinnitus, I am also sensitive to loud sounds, and the background noises.
I would appreciate your input
Patti UT
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Patti UT:
I think TransEar can only help your situation. Because of your SSD, you are only receiving acoustic signals from one side. In a quiet environment, one theoretically needs only 6 dB of added gain to overcome what is called "the head shadow." This number goes up as background noise increases. The higher the background noise, the less you are able to discriminate. I would think that tinnitus makes it even more difficult. With TransEar, you will be receiving information from both sides - even though it is the good cochlea that processes both. Thus background noise will be much less a problem for you. Note that I did not say "no problem for you." While digital hearing aid technology allows us greater ability to filter noise, the holy grail for the industry has not been, and may not ever be, reached. The "grail" is the ability of a computer chip to determine what "noise" actually is. Noise to you might not be noise to me, for example. Since TransEar uses bone conduction rather than acoustic amplification, the fact that you are sensitive to loud noises should not be an issue.
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TransEarXpert:
How much is the non-refundable fee if we did not like it? 60 day trial period sounds good but at what cost?
Thank you, Kathy
ps: You mentioned the cost of the aid would be the same as a high end digital aid. Would this be in the $1,500.00 to $2,000.00 range?
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Kathy:
I think high end digital hearing aids are in the $3K area in most regions of the U.S. For TransEar, there is a $150 "hold-back," since the custom transfer unit must be disposed of if returned. Your audiologist might have separate charges, so it is always best to ask.
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Hey TransEarXpert I asked you a question in my last e-mail ;D
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