Re: Questions about BAHA

May 9, 2006

To answer your questions:

1. she preferred it and tested better with it in the booth; recurrent ear

infections with the in the ear aids.

2. aids worked but blocked her ears causing recurrent ear infections and a

subsequent 50dB further hearing loss (they stopped completely when the aids

came out of the ears)

3. Softband began at age 4 (can be used on babies though) - implant at age

8

4. No. we just thought of it at age 4 when the booth testing should better

results with the bone aid.

>

> Can any of you that have the BAHA or have considered the BAHA for your

> child tell me why you chose it or why you decided against it? Also, did aids

> work and what was the hearing level with the aids vs. the BAHA? What age did

> you start using the BAHA and how long did you use the softband before having

> the surgery? Did any of the doctors or audiologists feel that it was not

> needed early on, but might be an option when the child could have the

> surgery?

>

> Thanks,

>

> Mom to 3yrs CHARGE

>

May 9, 2006

To answer your questions:

1. she preferred it and tested better with it in the booth; recurrent ear

infections with the in the ear aids.

2. aids worked but blocked her ears causing recurrent ear infections and a

subsequent 50dB further hearing loss (they stopped completely when the aids

came out of the ears)

3. Softband began at age 4 (can be used on babies though) - implant at age

8

4. No. we just thought of it at age 4 when the booth testing should better

results with the bone aid.

>

> Can any of you that have the BAHA or have considered the BAHA for your

> child tell me why you chose it or why you decided against it? Also, did aids

> work and what was the hearing level with the aids vs. the BAHA? What age did

> you start using the BAHA and how long did you use the softband before having

> the surgery? Did any of the doctors or audiologists feel that it was not

> needed early on, but might be an option when the child could have the

> surgery?

>

> Thanks,

>

> Mom to 3yrs CHARGE

>

May 9, 2006

To answer your questions:

1. she preferred it and tested better with it in the booth; recurrent ear

infections with the in the ear aids.

2. aids worked but blocked her ears causing recurrent ear infections and a

subsequent 50dB further hearing loss (they stopped completely when the aids

came out of the ears)

3. Softband began at age 4 (can be used on babies though) - implant at age

8

4. No. we just thought of it at age 4 when the booth testing should better

results with the bone aid.

>

> Can any of you that have the BAHA or have considered the BAHA for your

> child tell me why you chose it or why you decided against it? Also, did aids

> work and what was the hearing level with the aids vs. the BAHA? What age did

> you start using the BAHA and how long did you use the softband before having

> the surgery? Did any of the doctors or audiologists feel that it was not

> needed early on, but might be an option when the child could have the

> surgery?

>

> Thanks,

>

> Mom to 3yrs CHARGE

>

May 9, 2006

what is a soft band

our ENT or audiologist never mentioned BAHA or soft band.

fortunately, my daughter did not have ear infections. Just one last month

when she was 15 months old and she has been wearing hearing aids since she

was 7 months old.

But my guess she had fluid since last two or three months.

now has tubes,.

with hearing aids usage, is the probability more to get an ear infection.

how often should she be checked for fluid in ears?

Rita

>

> To answer your questions:

> 1. she preferred it and tested better with it in the booth; recurrent ear

> infections with the in the ear aids.

> 2. aids worked but blocked her ears causing recurrent ear infections and a

> subsequent 50dB further hearing loss (they stopped completely when the

> aids

> came out of the ears)

> 3. Softband began at age 4 (can be used on babies though) - implant at

> age

> 8

> 4. No. we just thought of it at age 4 when the booth testing should

> better

> results with the bone aid.

>

> >

> > Can any of you that have the BAHA or have considered the BAHA for your

> > child tell me why you chose it or why you decided against it? Also, did

> aids

> > work and what was the hearing level with the aids vs. the BAHA? What age

> did

> > you start using the BAHA and how long did you use the softband before

> having

> > the surgery? Did any of the doctors or audiologists feel that it was not

> > needed early on, but might be an option when the child could have the

> > surgery?

> >

> > Thanks,

> >

> > Mom to 3yrs CHARGE

> >

>

May 9, 2006

what is a soft band

our ENT or audiologist never mentioned BAHA or soft band.

fortunately, my daughter did not have ear infections. Just one last month

when she was 15 months old and she has been wearing hearing aids since she

was 7 months old.

But my guess she had fluid since last two or three months.

now has tubes,.

with hearing aids usage, is the probability more to get an ear infection.

how often should she be checked for fluid in ears?

Rita

>

> To answer your questions:

> 1. she preferred it and tested better with it in the booth; recurrent ear

> infections with the in the ear aids.

> 2. aids worked but blocked her ears causing recurrent ear infections and a

> subsequent 50dB further hearing loss (they stopped completely when the

> aids

> came out of the ears)

> 3. Softband began at age 4 (can be used on babies though) - implant at

> age

> 8

> 4. No. we just thought of it at age 4 when the booth testing should

> better

> results with the bone aid.

>

> >

> > Can any of you that have the BAHA or have considered the BAHA for your

> > child tell me why you chose it or why you decided against it? Also, did

> aids

> > work and what was the hearing level with the aids vs. the BAHA? What age

> did

> > you start using the BAHA and how long did you use the softband before

> having

> > the surgery? Did any of the doctors or audiologists feel that it was not

> > needed early on, but might be an option when the child could have the

> > surgery?

> >

> > Thanks,

> >

> > Mom to 3yrs CHARGE

> >

>

May 9, 2006

what is a soft band

our ENT or audiologist never mentioned BAHA or soft band.

fortunately, my daughter did not have ear infections. Just one last month

when she was 15 months old and she has been wearing hearing aids since she

was 7 months old.

But my guess she had fluid since last two or three months.

now has tubes,.

with hearing aids usage, is the probability more to get an ear infection.

how often should she be checked for fluid in ears?

Rita

>

> To answer your questions:

> 1. she preferred it and tested better with it in the booth; recurrent ear

> infections with the in the ear aids.

> 2. aids worked but blocked her ears causing recurrent ear infections and a

> subsequent 50dB further hearing loss (they stopped completely when the

> aids

> came out of the ears)

> 3. Softband began at age 4 (can be used on babies though) - implant at

> age

> 8

> 4. No. we just thought of it at age 4 when the booth testing should

> better

> results with the bone aid.

>

> >

> > Can any of you that have the BAHA or have considered the BAHA for your

> > child tell me why you chose it or why you decided against it? Also, did

> aids

> > work and what was the hearing level with the aids vs. the BAHA? What age

> did

> > you start using the BAHA and how long did you use the softband before

> having

> > the surgery? Did any of the doctors or audiologists feel that it was not

> > needed early on, but might be an option when the child could have the

> > surgery?

> >

> > Thanks,

> >

> > Mom to 3yrs CHARGE

> >

>

May 9, 2006

Ellen,

interesting, my insurance paid thousands, and thousands for 's BAHA

surgery, 3 separate surgeries, (they had to go back and do a skin graft) , then

when we went to get the actual appliance (the hearing processor) we hooked it

up to , they showed us how it worked, then as we were walking out the

door they said " dont forget to stop in to the office manager " , so we did and

she says that will be $3,400!. I almost fainted. She said we take credit

cards. They never prepared us for this, we assumed it would have been covered

by our insurance, since the surgery was. I fought, appealed, and no luck.

This was at NYU, supposdely one of the top places in the country for implants.

Now, we have a BAHA scew in her head (2), a $3400 processor and gets

no benefit from it so it is not used! THey never tried the soft band. Her

ENT siad b/c of her frequent ear infections, etc that mayeb this was the way

to go, so referred us to the surgeon who just went with it.

We thought this was our answer, and trusted they knew what they were doing,

but obviously not.

We are now going back to a digital hearing aide in one ear!

Cathie, mom to erika 10yr

May 9, 2006

foft band is the non implant i think its wat i have

>

> what is a soft band

> our ENT or audiologist never mentioned BAHA or soft band.

> fortunately, my daughter did not have ear infections. Just one last month

> when she was 15 months old and she has been wearing hearing aids since she

> was 7 months old.

> But my guess she had fluid since last two or three months.

> now has tubes,.

> with hearing aids usage, is the probability more to get an ear infection.

> how often should she be checked for fluid in ears?

>

> Rita

>

> >

> > To answer your questions:

> > 1. she preferred it and tested better with it in the booth; recurrent

> ear

> > infections with the in the ear aids.

> > 2. aids worked but blocked her ears causing recurrent ear infections and

> a

> > subsequent 50dB further hearing loss (they stopped completely when the

> > aids

> > came out of the ears)

> > 3. Softband began at age 4 (can be used on babies though) - implant at

> > age

> > 8

> > 4. No. we just thought of it at age 4 when the booth testing should

> > better

> > results with the bone aid.

> >

> > >

> > > Can any of you that have the BAHA or have considered the BAHA for your

> > > child tell me why you chose it or why you decided against it? Also,

> did

> > aids

> > > work and what was the hearing level with the aids vs. the BAHA? What

> age

> > did

> > > you start using the BAHA and how long did you use the softband before

> > having

> > > the surgery? Did any of the doctors or audiologists feel that it was

> not

> > > needed early on, but might be an option when the child could have the

> > > surgery?

> > >

> > > Thanks,

> > >

> > > Mom to 3yrs CHARGE

> > >

> >

May 9, 2006

foft band is the non implant i think its wat i have

>

> what is a soft band

> our ENT or audiologist never mentioned BAHA or soft band.

> fortunately, my daughter did not have ear infections. Just one last month

> when she was 15 months old and she has been wearing hearing aids since she

> was 7 months old.

> But my guess she had fluid since last two or three months.

> now has tubes,.

> with hearing aids usage, is the probability more to get an ear infection.

> how often should she be checked for fluid in ears?

>

> Rita

>

> >

> > To answer your questions:

> > 1. she preferred it and tested better with it in the booth; recurrent

> ear

> > infections with the in the ear aids.

> > 2. aids worked but blocked her ears causing recurrent ear infections and

> a

> > subsequent 50dB further hearing loss (they stopped completely when the

> > aids

> > came out of the ears)

> > 3. Softband began at age 4 (can be used on babies though) - implant at

> > age

> > 8

> > 4. No. we just thought of it at age 4 when the booth testing should

> > better

> > results with the bone aid.

> >

> > >

> > > Can any of you that have the BAHA or have considered the BAHA for your

> > > child tell me why you chose it or why you decided against it? Also,

> did

> > aids

> > > work and what was the hearing level with the aids vs. the BAHA? What

> age

> > did

> > > you start using the BAHA and how long did you use the softband before

> > having

> > > the surgery? Did any of the doctors or audiologists feel that it was

> not

> > > needed early on, but might be an option when the child could have the

> > > surgery?

> > >

> > > Thanks,

> > >

> > > Mom to 3yrs CHARGE

> > >

> >

May 9, 2006

foft band is the non implant i think its wat i have

>

> what is a soft band

> our ENT or audiologist never mentioned BAHA or soft band.

> fortunately, my daughter did not have ear infections. Just one last month

> when she was 15 months old and she has been wearing hearing aids since she

> was 7 months old.

> But my guess she had fluid since last two or three months.

> now has tubes,.

> with hearing aids usage, is the probability more to get an ear infection.

> how often should she be checked for fluid in ears?

>

> Rita

>

> >

> > To answer your questions:

> > 1. she preferred it and tested better with it in the booth; recurrent

> ear

> > infections with the in the ear aids.

> > 2. aids worked but blocked her ears causing recurrent ear infections and

> a

> > subsequent 50dB further hearing loss (they stopped completely when the

> > aids

> > came out of the ears)

> > 3. Softband began at age 4 (can be used on babies though) - implant at

> > age

> > 8

> > 4. No. we just thought of it at age 4 when the booth testing should

> > better

> > results with the bone aid.

> >

> > >

> > > Can any of you that have the BAHA or have considered the BAHA for your

> > > child tell me why you chose it or why you decided against it? Also,

> did

> > aids

> > > work and what was the hearing level with the aids vs. the BAHA? What

> age

> > did

> > > you start using the BAHA and how long did you use the softband before

> > having

> > > the surgery? Did any of the doctors or audiologists feel that it was

> not

> > > needed early on, but might be an option when the child could have the

> > > surgery?

> > >

> > > Thanks,

> > >

> > > Mom to 3yrs CHARGE

> > >

> >

May 9, 2006

,

is beginning this process...Our local ENT is not well versed in the BAHA

and she has sent us to a new DR with her blessing... has analog aides...they

are not working...after 2 years of trying every method to get digitals ( through

insurance).I have thrown my hands up....I spoke with the case manager and her

supervisor about this...I asked them since they would not help pay for the

digitals were they prepared to payout for the surgery? They said of course they

will pay for the surgery...Doesn't make sense to me..you would be willing to

fork over 10 times the cost of what we were requesting plus but the hearing

device. They said yes! That is the problem with our insurance companies... So

we go forward....

had a dramatic result to the bone conduction test...His speech was

unbelievably clear and 100% word recognition ...She even spoke quickly and

did not miss a single word...It was truly amazing.

is missing key components in class every day...the analog aides were ok

in the beginning...He needed to be able to hear more...since he has diminished

vision ( even though we have seen doctors that have said his vision is " cured " )

cannot rely on it to see what he is missing...He is going into 3rd grade.

Some decisions needed to be made...We are still in the very beginning

stages...The new doctor may say that he wants to wait who knows? But we are

moving forward at least...

Also 's cochlea is 2 1/4 turns which is almost normal and our ENT was not

opposed to us looking in to a CI also. Again we are just starting our

journey...

Good luck

Ellen mom to 8

May 9, 2006

Good luck with the bahas. i gotta see my audiologist today about somethhing

i need to sign for odsp to pay for my appointment last week.

I need to keep pushing for the baha.

Chantelle

May 9, 2006

Rita et al:

Aubrie has mixed hearing loss and does really well in the booth with the

conductive aid. However, she's been ruled out as a candidate for the BAHA

by the leading guy in IL on this. She's doing really well with the latest

technology in air conduction aids. Now -- here's the thing. She hasn't had

ear tubes for a few years and has done well with very few infections.

However, her hearing definitely fluctuates in relation to her ear and sinus

health. Fluid can be a real problem even when there's no infection. It's

been troubling me for some time. Now you all have me wondering if we need

to revisit this with the ENT -- another set of tubes? Conductive aid? What

would the answer be? We're seeing the ENT soon regarding the speech issue

so I can add this to the growing list of concerns.

Michele W

mom to Aubrie 8 yrs CHARGE, 14 yrs and wife to DJ

May 9, 2006