Bone Anchored Hearing Devices

at Allergy & ENT Associates of Middle TN

A bone anchored hearing device is a hearing device that relies on direct bone conduction to transmit sound. This surgically implanted device bypasses the auditory canal and middle ear, using bone as a pathway for sound to reach the inner ear. Bone anchored hearing devices may be an alternative for individuals with chronic ear infections, congenital external auditory canal atresia, and single-sided deafness.


Patients with these conditions often do not benefit from conventional hearing aids.

What Bone Anchored Hearing Devices Can Help Address

Bone anchored hearing devices may be recommended for individuals who experience:


  • Chronic ear infections
  • Congenital external auditory canal atresia
  • Single-sided deafness (unilateral hearing loss)
  • Conductive hearing loss
  • Mixed hearing loss
  • Difficulty benefiting from traditional hearing aids


Because these devices bypass the ear canal and middle ear, they can be especially helpful for patients who cannot tolerate standard hearing aids.

How Do Bone Anchored Hearing Devices Work?

In normal hearing, sound enters the external ear and travels down the ear canal through the middle ear to the cochlea (inner ear). This process is called air conduction.


For certain types of hearing loss, sound cannot travel through these pathways. Bone anchored devices use the bones’ natural conductive ability by sending sound vibrations directly to the inner ear, bypassing the auditory canal and middle ear.


A bone anchored hearing device has three main components:


  • A titanium implant


  • An external abutment


  • A sound processor


After the implant is surgically placed, it gradually fuses with the skull bone over several months in a process called osseointegration.


Once healing is complete, the device is fitted and programmed. The sound processor transmits vibrations through the external abutment to the implant. These vibrations stimulate the inner ear and nerve fibers responsible for hearing.


Bone anchored hearing devices are a safe and effective FDA-approved treatment option and have been available in the United States since 1977.

Who Can Benefit from Bone Anchored Hearing Devices?

Candidates for bone anchored hearing devices are typically patients with:


  • Conductive hearing loss


  • Mixed hearing loss


  • Unilateral (single-sided) hearing loss


Patients with chronic ear infections that do not respond to treatment may benefit significantly. Traditional hearing aids can worsen these conditions because humidity and moisture may build up in the ear canal.


Individuals with congenital ear defects—such as ear canals that are narrow or absent—may also be good candidates for this type of hearing device.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Are bone anchored hearing devices safe?

    Yes. Bone anchored hearing devices are FDA-approved and considered a safe and effective option for many hearing-impaired patients.

  • How long does it take to use the device after surgery?

    After implantation, the device must heal and fuse with the skull bone through osseointegration, which takes several months before fitting and programming.

  • Who should consider a bone anchored hearing device instead of a hearing aid?

    These devices may be ideal for patients with conductive or mixed hearing loss, chronic ear infections, congenital ear canal defects, or single-sided deafness who do not benefit from conventional hearing aids.

Call Allergy & ENT Associates at (615) 889-8802 to learn more or schedule an appointment.