A team from Loyola University Medical Center has pioneered a device and a surgical procedure that will bring hearing to ears that can't hear - which could be an alternative for people whose deafness cannot be helped by traditional hearing aids or cochlear implants.

According to Dr. Sam Marzo who surgically implanted a bone-anchored cochlear stimulator that delivers sound to the inner ear by bone conduction to Tom Lynch (age 2, now able to hear on both sides of his head):

"It harnesses the ability of the skull bone to conduct sound vibrations. It will enable Tom to perceive sounds on both sides of his head, which is critical for his speech development.

People unable to hear as a result of chronic ear inflammation or drainage can benefit from this new therapy. The device will work for people who do not have a functioning ear canal."

Bone conduction is an alternative way to stimulate the cochlea (the snail-shaped part of the inner ear that is responsible for hearing) if the regular sound route-via the ear canal-is interrupted or not available.

To provide the therapy, a small titanium post is surgically implanted in the skull bone, one-half inch behind the ear. It takes three months for the implant to be integrated into the bone.

A 1.5-inch x 1-inch sound processor, which snaps onto the post, transmits sound via bone conduction directly to the cochlea. The result is the sensation of hearing from both ears.

Source: Loyola University Health System