Bone-Anchored Hearing Aids (BAHA)
Traditional hearing aids not working? There's another way to hear clearly again
What is a Bone-Anchored Hearing Aid (BAHA)?
A Bone Anchored Hearing Aid (BAHA) is an advanced hearing solution for people who can’t use or don’t benefit from traditional hearing aids.
BAHA is effective for conductive hearing loss, mixed hearing loss, single-sided deafness, chronic ear infections, or malformed ear canals. The system consists of two parts:
Titanium Implant (Abutment)
A small titanium fixture is surgically placed in the skull bone just behind your ear. This implant fuses with the bone over time (a process called osseointegration) and serves as a stable anchor for the sound processor.
External Sound Processor
This is the visible part of the BAHA system. It clips onto the implant and contains a microphone, processor, and vibrator. The processor picks up sound from your environment, converts it into vibrations, and sends it through the implant to your
inner ear.
Instead of amplifying sound through the ear canal, BAHA uses bone conduction to send sound vibrations directly to your inner ear, bypassing the outer and middle ear entirely.
*close up image on an ear with BAHA system with labels of the parts
How do Bone-Anchored Hearing Aids (BAHA) work?
Bone Anchored Hearing Aids (BAHA) work by bypassing the outer and middle ear completely. Here’s how it works:
- Sound is picked up by the external processor
- The sound is converted into vibrations
- Those vibrations are transmitted through the titanium implant into your skull bone and travels directly to the inner ear (cochlea)
- Finally, these vibrations are then processed as sound by your brain
Because sound travels through bone instead of air, BAHA is highly effective for people whose outer or middle ear doesn’t work properly—but whose inner ear (cochlea) is healthy.
Here’s how it works:
Sound
Processor picks up sound
External Sound Processor
Sound Processor picks up sound
Titanium Implant
Vibrations travels through the inner ear
Cochlea
Brain processes these vibrations as sound
Are Bone-Anchored Hearing Aids (BAHA) right for you?
BAHA may be the right solution if traditional hearing aids haven’t worked for you or aren’t an option due to your specific type of hearing loss or ear condition.
BAHA is designed for people with:
- Conductive or mixed hearing loss (where sound can't pass through the outer or middle ear effectively)
- Single-sided deafness (hearing loss in one ear only)
- Chronic ear infections or drainage that prevent traditional hearing aid use
- Malformed, narrow, or missing ear canals
- Conditions where wearing an in-ear or behind-the-ear hearing aid is uncomfortable, ineffective, or medically not recommended
- Stress and anxiety (which can make tinnitus more noticeable)
If you’ve been told that traditional hearing aids won’t help you, or if you’ve tried them without success, BAHA may help you. The best way to find out if you’re a candidate is through a comprehensive BAHA assessment at Shire Hearing.
Experience Better Hearing with BAHA in 5 Simple Steps
We guide you through every step—from initial assessment to post-surgery support. Here’s how it works:
Step 1
BAHA Candidacy Assessment at Shire Hearing
We’ll conduct a comprehensive audiological assessment to determine if you’re a good candidate for Bone-Anchored Hearing Aids. This includes case history, otoscopy, pure tone audiometry, speech discrimination, and tympanometry
Step 2
BAHA Education and Surgery Discussion
We’ll explain how bone conduction works, the BAHA system components, benefits and limitations, what to expect from surgery and recovery, and how to care for your device.
Step 3
Softband Trial
If you’re eligible, we’ll fit you with a softband trial device so you can experience bone conduction sound before surgery. You’ll hear how Bone-Anchored Hearing Aids (BAHA) work in real environments, and we’ll measure the improvement through aided versus unaided assessments.
Step 4
ENT Referral for Medical Evaluation & Surgery
We’ll refer you to a trusted ENT specialist for medical evaluation and surgical implantation of the titanium fixture. The ENT performs the surgery, not Shire Hearing. We coordinate your referral and liaise with your surgeon throughout.
Healing typically takes 4–6 weeks.
Step 5
Return to Shire Hearing for Fitting & Programming
Once healed, you’ll return to us for fitting and programming. We’ll attach the external sound processor, optimize settings for your hearing, and teach you how to use and maintain your device.
Why Families Across the Shire Trust Us With Their Hearing
We’re not just another hearing clinic. Here’s what makes Shire Hearing different.
- Count on Us for Hassle-Free SupportYour hearing aids come with full servicing during the warranty period. Need a quick clean or adjustment? Just drop in. No appointment, no fuss, no waiting around.
- Receive Care That's Tailored to Your Unique NeedsYour hearing is as unique as you are. We create personalised solutions based on your lifestyle, preferences, and hearing profile.
- Get Honest, Unbiased RecommendationsWe're independent, family-owned, so we're free to recommend what's truly best for you. Not what earns us the highest commission.
- Trusted by the Doctors Who Know BestLocal GPs refer patients to us because they know we prioritise proper care and genuine results over quick sales.
- You Take Your Time. No Rushed AppointmentsOur appointments are longer because you deserve time to ask questions, understand your options, and feel confident in your decisions.
- You're Family, Not Just a CustomerWe treat every client like family and build lifelong relationships. Our friendly, compassionate team is here for you, from your first visit to decades of care.
Hear it for yourself
“My introduction to Shire Hearing was with my mother who lives in Cronulla, I live in Wollongong. Rachel was very caring with my mother who will be 99 on Anzac Day 2020.
My experience with hearing aids started when I mentioned my tinnitus, during the conversation I realised Rachel was very knowledgeable and she told me when I started to lose my hearing, wearing hearing aids would help. They did!”
We had a lovely experience from booking to assessment. The clinic is accessible and they had loads of availability at the Engadine location. The assessor was gentle and relaxed and created a calm and fun environment for our child. 5 stars 🌟
Honestly the most amazing place to get your hearing tests done ✅. I’ve never felt more welcomed & safe before & highly highly recommend the lovely Krystal @ Engadine Clinic. Such great service and knowledge , I couldn’t recommend enough. Please choose Shire hearing Engadine for your next appointment ❤️.
What a great and calm experience! Krystal connected straight away with my toddler son, She took the time to play and engage with my son other than just for testing.
Usually my son is hard to get to cooperate with visual assessments of his ears, but he was happy and comfortable with Krystal.
Would highly recommend Shire Hearing Engadine!
Krystal at Shire Hearing was fantastic with our two neurodiverse boys. She had them cooperating, engaged and interested. And she picked up a previously unknown issue so we can look into it further. Fantastic experience and service!
They are amazing. Any issue with hearing aids they fix for free. Even if it’s just changing the filters. When I was choosing my new hearing aids they lent programmable ones to try and compare. I got the top ones in the end. The programs on the App are also designed just for me which helps adjusting in noisy environments.
Proudly Serving the Sutherland Shire Community
Shire Hearing has two convenient locations in Cronulla and Engadine, making expert hearing care accessible right here in the Shire community.
Cronulla Clinic
- Shop 10/38-40 Croydon Street, Cronulla NSW 2230, Australia
- (02) 9544 4466
- Monday to Friday (9AM - 5PM)
Engadine Clinic
- Shop 6/10 Waratah Rd, Engadine NSW 2233, Australia
- (02) 9520 4774
- Monday to Friday (9AM - 5PM)
FAQs
Ready to Find Out If Bone-Anchored Hearing Aids Are Right for You?
If traditional hearing aids haven’t worked, BAHA may be the solution you’ve been looking for. Start with a comprehensive assessment and risk-free softband trial at Shire Hearing.