Hearing everyday sounds is often taken for granted. However, there are many who are unable to experience the joy of sound due to hearing loss. With recent advances in technology, the wonder of sound is now possible for many millions of people.
For years, a subset of the hearing impaired were not accounted for: those with conductive hearing loss (outer or middle ear); mixed hearing loss (both middle and inner ear); and single-sided, sensorineural deafness (total deafness in one ear). Bone anchored hearing devices, a solution first introduced in Europe, provided a new option for over 100,000 adults and children.
Despite significant upgrades to the quality of sound processors, traditional bone anchored hearing aids continue to be affixed to an abutment screwed into the skull that permanently protrudes (through the skin).
A German physician noted that many patients declined to use traditional bone anchored hearing aids because of the abutment, even though they could benefit from the device. Potential candidates did not want to have a metal piece permanently protruding from their heads, and others could not accept the high complication rate due to postoperative infections and other issues. Still others were not willing to accept the daily process of cleaning the abutment and skin around it or that hair follicles would be removed, resulting in a permanent bald spot.
Introducing the Alpha 1 Hearing System, a new solution to abutment-free bone anchored hearing.
