For Single-Sided Deafness
Many people who are deaf in one ear but have normal hearing in the other often simply make do with the one good ear. However, single-sided deafness can reduce not only your ability to locate sounds but also the ability to follow conversations in noisy environments. Bone-anchored hearing systems are extremely effective solutions for single-sided deafness, providing audio input from side of the head with the deaf ear. A bone-anchored hearing system utilizes the excellent sound-conduction capabilities of the human skull. If you’ve ever put a tuning fork on the top of your head and heard the sound radiate into your inner ear, you know how effective your skull bone can be in transmitting sound waves. A microphone in the implant sitting near the deaf ear and collects sound and translates it into audio waves that transmit to the good ear through the skull.
[table id=4 /]
If you suffer from single-sided deafness, the first step is to see an otolaryngologist, or ear-nose-and-throat doctor (ENT), who can examine you and recommend whether a bone-anchored hearing implant will help. The four manufacturers listed above sell bone-conduction implants. Click on their logos or photos for links to further information on their web sites.