Bone Conduction Hearing Aid
A bone conduction hearing aid transmits sound vibrations through the bones of the skull rather than through the outer and middle ear. This type of device is appropriate for people who cannot wear conventional hearing aids, typically because of chronic ear canal problems, a missing or malformed outer ear, or a conductive hearing loss that cannot be corrected medically.
The device picks up sound through a microphone, converts it to vibrations, and transmits those vibrations through the skull directly to the cochlea. Some bone conduction devices are worn on a headband or soft band. Others, called bone-anchored hearing aids (BAHAs), connect to a small titanium implant surgically placed behind the ear, creating a direct bone pathway for sound transmission.
In Canada, bone-anchored devices may qualify for provincial funding through programs such as the Assistive Devices Program (ADP) in Ontario, depending on eligibility criteria.
