Hi there. Curious if anyone out there has any experience with the Cochlear Max 6 BAHA’s? I’ve seen a few specialists that suggest I should try them. Uncertain how I feel about it, so I thought I’d see what the people here have to say. Also, does anyone have access to the programming software compatible with these aids?
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I don’t have any experience with a BAHA. Why not look at the Osia 2? This is the newest BAHA type devise.
Depending on how severe your hearing loss is even a Cochlear Implant could be more suitable for your loss.
No, it is not a typical hearing aid, FDA/ medical regulators probably will go after them if they release the software/hardware combo to program them to the public…
I am pretty active and worry about the device flying off with the magnetic application. Cochlear implants won’t help my with my conductive hearing loss. My cochlea’s aren’t fully developed, therefore I have enlarge vistibular aquaducts or something like that. But my bone conduction is not bad.
I have the Osia 2. Love it. I also have conductive loss. The Osia provides more volume to my bad ear than trad aids. It’s brilliant for speech. I attach a tiny hair clip to fishing leader and attach that to the Osia. I have almist no issues with the the processor coming off, and the hairclip is surprisingly good at keeping it safe when it happens. But I can wear a number four magnet with no issues; other’s can’t. The thing about the abutment/post style baha is that many folks battle infections with them. that’s not an issue with Osia.
I have ski slope loss going to profound on my right ear. With the Osia, I test flat all across the decibels and at very close to normal levels. It’s really remkarkable!
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if the audiologist suggests that you use baha, it means that your BC is still good. if you are hesitant to use Baha yg using operating procedures, you can use Baha paste (to test what baha useful or not
This is not clear to me at all, can you rephrase this?
Yes the surgeon did explain to me about the risk of infections with the insertion of surgical steel abutments. But I just felt like it was the better option. He said the percentage of patients that experienced it is pretty minimal tho. He also seemed to think the 6 Max was most beneficial on the volume end of things. I couldn’t find much literature but I did see both aids are 55dbs so I’m not entirely sure what he meant. He seemed to think there was more power on the 6 Max. I don’t entirely understand BAHA’s functionality yet either. I’m used to traditional air conduction aids but my air conduction is so bad, there isn’t an ultra power aid that performs like they used to. The Oticon Xceed’s and Phonak Naida P series just aren’t producing the power and performing like my old Naida Q’s. They sound amazing, but lacking power. So the surgeons I met with suggested instead of trying bridge the gap of air conduction, since my bone conduction isn’t nearly as bad, it would be a smaller gap to bridge, requiring less effort than a traditional hearing aid.
the icing on the BAHA cake is that it’s not an either/or proposition. You can still use your traditional HA’s along with a BAHA, or revert to them if you hate the BAHA. But you won’t. When playing music (I’m a classical guitarist) I often turn down my Osia to the next to lowest setting and use my Signia AX 7s as well. the Osia is amazingly powerful! Even at this low setting, it makes a big difference in volume.
I’ve only had the Osia so can’t compare to other BAHAs.
from what i understand from the Osia 2 implant system, by having the implant below the skin, there is no chance of feedback and more power available because it is behind the skin and effective feedback control… depend on your power need, you may want to consider it instead of the BAHA variant?
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The Adhear and other outside of the skin devices don’t accurately show the advantages of a surgically placed BAHA system. That said, there’s nothing wrong with trying this out. I trialed a headband style BAHA before committing to surgery for an implant. The headband was roughly equivalent to an Adhear, which has to penetrate the skin before reaching the mastoid bone. And as a result, a lot of effectiveness is lost.
I was surprised by how much better the implanted Osia was than what I heard with a headband. I assume this is true as well for any abutment style BAHA.
With the BAHA Cochlear option, there’s less power available for people who use a magnet rather than a screw.
The screw allows for more power.
Are you really sure? the screw and the vibrator electronic piece is implanted under the skin instead outside the skin/ hole and on the sound processor…
It is like a cochlear implant system.
They took the BAHA Sound processor and chop it into 2 piece component literally
Sound processor, added a coil to communicate/ power/magnet over the skin
on the other side coil, magnet, and vibrator, and bone conduction screw.
I think you are confusing with the Cochlear’s BAHA Attract system which Cochlear discontinued using for a more advanced system which is the Osia implant system
Just going buy what the hospital said.
I was assessed for a BAHA and asked about the magnet type as I didn’t want a screw on the outside and was told the magnet is not suitable for my loss as I need too much power.
This was the BAHA 5 tho. I assume the issue will be the same for the BAHA 6 and that is what is in the title.
Is the Osia a BAHA 6? Doesn’t look like it. Looks like two different devices.
I think what hospital was referring is the BAHA Attract system…
Osia 2 is a completely different system which was released recently… It is a hybrid of a cochlear implant system and BAHA vibirator… You should look into it if you are still interested in it…
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I agree; I don’t think the Osia is “less powerful”. the part that generates the vibrartions is under the skin attached directly to the mastoid. It’s very efficient. this is definitely worth looking into. by the way, there’s a BAHA wearers web site with a page for Osia users:
you could enquire there as well.
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The specs say the two systems are the same power. The BAHA 6 Max and Osia 2 both have a fitting range of up to 55 dB of hearing loss.
Note that the the Ponto 5 Super Power has a fitting range of 65 dB but I don’t know if it will still be offered after Cochlear closes the purchase of Oticon’s implant business line (including the Ponto).
I used an Oticon Plus Power bone conduction device for my SSD which also had a 55 dB fitting range. My cochlea though was not working and it was based on relaying sound across the skull to my good ear & cochlea. After six years of continued hearing loss I found that the bone conduction device was just not working well enough for me and it was really obvious as we all emerge from Covid isolation. The result is that I had my outer part of the abutment removed last month I’m having my cochlear implant activated next week.
I love the technology of bone conduction - it just didn’t work well enough for me.
I was frustrated by the skin scabs around the abutment every day for essentially 6 years. Also, because it wasn’t able to use the bad cochlea, the processor never gave me stereo hearing, ability to filter background noise, identify where noise was coming from, or get relief from tinnitus.
If I had a working cochlea on my bad side, I think the Osia 2 would have been a really nice option.
Good luck on your hearing journey!
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I don’t know anything about BAHA’s so I can’t comment. But have you looked at the Med el Adhear or Bonebridge system?