Implantable Hearing Devices

Implantable hearing devices are surgically placed systems that restore or improve hearing by bypassing damaged portions of the auditory system or by delivering amplified vibrations through direct contact with middle or inner ear structures. The most common types are cochlear implants, bone-anchored hearing aids (BAHAs), and middle ear implants.

Cochlear implants are appropriate for people with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss who receive limited benefit from conventional hearing aids. Bone-anchored devices transmit sound through the skull and are used when the outer or middle ear cannot conduct sound normally. Middle ear implants attach directly to the ossicles (the small bones of the middle ear) and are an option for people who cannot tolerate traditional hearing aids because of chronic ear canal conditions.

All implantable hearing devices require surgical implantation and ongoing audiological follow-up. In Canada, cochlear implants are covered by provincial health plans at designated centres. Other implantable devices may qualify for partial funding through Ontario's Assistive Devices Program (ADP).