Hearing solutions

Overview

We provide hearing services for children and adults who may benefit from bone-anchored hearing devices. Our team works with you to assess your hearing needs, fit your device and provide ongoing followup care.

We also research the use of bone-anchored hearing devices to improve outcomes for patients and transfer knowledge to other clinicians.

Services 

• identification and assessment of hearing loss
• education and counselling
• fitting and followup with bone-anchored hearing systems and implants
• ongoing support for both children and adults

Types of hearing devices

Bone-anchored hearing aids

We provide bone-anchored hearing aids. A surgeon places a small titanium implant in the bone behind your ear. The hearing device is attached to this implant and turns sound into vibrations that travel through your skull to your cochlea (inner ear). From there, sound signals are sent to your brain.

Bone-anchored devices are for patients who have a normal inner ear but are missing or have insufficient outer or middle ear structures.

Conventional hearing aids (not offered here)

These devices sit in the ear canal and amplify sound through the air. They are for patients with intact outer and middle ear structures.

Cochlear implants (not offered here)

These devices are used when the inner ear (cochlea) is damaged. A cochlear implant sends signals directly to the auditory nerve.

Treatment pathway

1. After your referral is processed, we will schedule an appointment for you at a consult clinic.
2. At your consult clinic, an ear, nose and throat surgeon and an audiologist will assess your hearing loss.
3. If you are a candidate for the program, you will have a pretreatment education session, which may last up to two hours.
4. If you are a candidate, you will have implant surgery.
5. You will be seen for followup after your surgery.
6. Your hearing processor will be delivered after three to four months.
7. You will see your care team annually for followup.

Resources

Forms and referrals

• Bone Conduction Amplification referral form (PDF)

Condition and education resources

• Microtia/Atresia — Ear Community
• Resources for parents, caregivers and educators of children with hearing loss

Professional associations

• Alberta College of Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists (ACSLPA)
• Canadian Academy of Audiology
• Canadian Hard of Hearing Association (National)
• Canadian Hard of Hearing Association — Edmonton Chapter

Devices and technology

• Oticon Medical — Bone Conduction Devices
• Cochlear — Baha System

Financial support

• Alberta Aids to Daily Living (AADL) Program