FAQ for Candidates

How can I tell if I’m a candidate for the Baha^® system?
An audiologist can conduct hearing tests to help determine if the Baha system will benefit you.  You can also try the Baha system sound processor on a test rod or test headband available through facilities that offer the Baha system as a treatment option. This will allow you to experience the Baha system – with lowered sound quality and volume – and evaluate how well it may treat your particular type of hearing loss.

How can I locate a Baha system physician, audiologist, or clinic in my area?
Cochlear offers a searchable database that lets you locate qualified Baha system medical professionals and facilities by state.  Find a clinic near you.

Can I try the system before I decide if it is right for me?
You can experience bone conduction by trying the Baha system sound processor on a test rod or test headband available through facilities that offer the Baha system as a treatment option.  This will allow you to experience the benefits first-hand.  It should be noted, however, that as the testing gear must transfer sound to the bone through layers of skin and fascia, this will reduce sound quality and intensity. An implanted Baha system will likely provide a better quality of sound than a test device.  For a more realistic test, the test rod may be bitten down on with the patient’s teeth, which provide a more direct pathway to the skull bone.  Again, however, the implanted Baha system will likely provide a better quality of sound than this trial procedure. Read more about Baha accesories.

How is the Baha system different from a hearing aid?
The Baha system is distinctly different from a hearing aid.  While there is some overlap between the types of hearing loss that hearing aids and the Baha system can both treat, there are several key differences between these treatment options. 

Hearing aids rely solely on amplification through air conduction to treat hearing loss. The Baha is very different in this respect: instead of amplifying sound, the Baha system bypasses the damaged areas of the ear to send sound naturally to the cochlea through direct bone conduction.  Read more about how the Baha works.

Can I wear the sound processor if I have to undergo an MRI?
The sound processor should be removed prior to undergoing an MRI, but the titanium implant will not pose any risk.  Cochlear provides wearers with an MRI and security check information card. 

Will the sound processor or the implant be detected when I go through security at the airport? 
It is likely that you will need to remove the sound processor, but the implant will not be detected.  Cochlear provides Baha wearers with an airport and MRI information card. 

How many people wear the Baha system?
Currently, there are more than 30,000  Baha system recipients worldwide.  The Baha system has been available in Europe since 1976, and represents  30 years of experience and advancements in technology.

How old does a patient have to be to undergo surgery?
The Baha system is FDA-cleared for patients aged five years and older. For those under the age of five, the Baha^® Softband* is available.  Read more about Baha for children.

How long after surgery until I can be fitted with the Baha sound processor?
There is usually a three-month healing and osseointegration period for adults and a six-month period for children.  This time period allows the titanium implant to bond permanently with a patient’s living bone tissue, a process known as osseointegration.

Can I wear the sound processor all the time?
The sound processor is intended to be worn during all activities of normal daily living, with certain exceptions: the device is NOT waterproof so it must be removed when showering and during water recreation.  Also, it must be removed prior to sleeping.  If the sound processor is worn during contact sports, additional protection for the head may be needed.

How long does the sound processor last?
The life of the sound processor is typically five years or more.  The titanium implant and abutment to which the sound processor is attached is designed to last a lifetime.

* Caution: These products contain natural rubber latex that may cause allergic reactions.