Bone conduction hearing aid spectacles for adults (Images courtesy of BHM-Tech).
Bone Conduction Hearing Aids are designed for people with Conductive Hearing Loss or Mixed Hearing Loss or with unilateral hearing loss (hearing loss in one ear only) who get no benefit from wearing conventional Hearing Aids.
Unlike normal hearing aids, Bone Conduction Hearing Aids create vibrations that move across the skull to the Inner Ear where it is sensed by the hearing organ (the Cochlea) as sound.
While they work by using bone conduction, Bone Conduction Hearing Aids should not be confused with Bone Conduction Hearing Devices, which are also know as Bone Anchored Hearing Implants. Yes, it is a bit confusing but hang in there.
What Bone Conduction Hearing Aids Looks Like
A typical Bone Conduction Hearing Aid consists of a hearing aid worn behind the ear coupled with a bone conductor/vibrator fitted to a headband. The headband holds the vibrating bone conductor to the skull, which can make it uncomfortable to wear for long periods.
Due to the discomfort and visibility associated with wearing them, many children and adults prefer other hearing technology alternatives. A more popular design is to have the bone conductor fitted into the arm of a pair of specially strengthened spectacles connected to the hearing aid’s sound processor.
It’s important to note that Bone Conduction Hearing Aids are not as efficient as normal hearing aids. They are often used as a temporary solution for conductive hearing loss, particularly for people awaiting surgery to have a Bone Anchored Hearing Device.
Having Bone Conduction Hearing Aids are only a small part of the hearing loss management journey to have better hearing. When you make a decision to have Bone Conduction Hearing Aids it should be part of an overall therapy program with a qualified hearing health professional, such as an audiologist, who can work with you to help your brain make sense of the new information being sent by the devices.
There are several types of Bone Conduction Hearing Aids available for purchase in Australia, some of which can be subsidised through Australian Hearing.