BONE CONDUCTION IMPLANTS
The bone conduction implant, the world’s first active bone conduction implant system, can be an effective solution for individuals with lasting hearing loss following a middle ear operation, malformations, or generally for conductive hearing loss and mixed hearing loss. It is also an option for individuals with single-sided deafness.
With conductive or mixed hearing loss, sound cannot take the natural path through the outer and middle ear to the inner ear. With this implant, the sound waves are transmitted via bone conduction directly to the inner ear, where they are processed as natural sound. The system ensures optimal daily hearing performance while remaining discreet and unobtrusive.
BONE CONDUCTION RECEIVERS
Bone conduction receivers are electrodynamic transformers that can be operated with various audio devices (e.g. hearing aid, MP3 player or communications/wireless devices). Unlike sound converters such as headphones, the electrical signal is not transferred to the eardrum acoustically, but rather transferred through the cranial bone directly to the inner ear in the form of mechanical oscillations.
Bone conduction receivers can be used in fields in which the acoustic signal transfer is either limited or not possible. For example, they ensure communication in noisy surroundings and when using ear protection. Hearing with the aid of a bone conduction receiver is also possible when deep-sea diving or in vacuums.
One of the greatest advantages of the bone conduction receiver is that the technology is not slipped into the ear, but behind it. This means that you can still perceive your surroundings well – a huge safety bonus when jogging, cycling or performing other leisure activities. The technology also works underwater, so you can still communicate when diving recreationally.
COCHLEAR IMPLANTS
A CI is the only medical device capable of replacing a sense. It works by bypassing non-functioning parts of the inner ear and providing electrical stimulation directly to nerve fibres in the cochlea. A CI system consists of two parts: an externally worn audio processor, which sits comfortably behind or off the ear, and an internal cochlear implant, which is surgically placed just under the skin.
ELECTRONIC ACOUSTIC STIMULATION
If this sounds familiar, you may be missing out on hearing high-frequency sounds. When you cannot hear high-frequency sounds, you might have a type of hearing loss known as Partial Deafness. Partial Deafness is common in both children and adults.
EAS is the combination of two technologies: a cochlear implant for the high frequencies, and acoustic amplification for the low frequencies. Together, they cover the full range of hearing for both children and adults.
MIDDLE EAR IMPLANTS
In contrast to a hearing aid – which can only make sounds entering the ear canal louder – unique middle ear implant system converts the signals from the environment into mechanical vibrations. This mechanical energy directly stimulates the structures of the middle ear and allows even high-pitched tones to be perceived exceptionally well.