BAHA is an implantable hearing device used to treat hearing loss. The device works by directly stimulating the inner ear through the bone. The BAHA has been in use since 1977 in Europe and has been FDA approved since 1996 for conductive and mixed hearing loss. The FDA approved its use for one-sided deafness in 2002. BAHA is used to improve hearing in patients with chronic ear infections, congenital external auditory canal atresia (when the ear canal does not develop) or one-sided deafness who cannot benefit from regular hearing aids.
The BAHA consists of three parts: 1) The titanium implanted portion (small screw in the bone in picture to the right), which is similar to a dental implant, 2) An external abutment (the cone-shaped part that connects with the screw), and 3) The sound processor (hearing device) that clips onto the abutment.