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Sophono Alpha
For patients who cannot tolerate the thought of a titanium fixture through the skin, potential skin problems or the appearance of a bone anchored hearing aid, a Sophono Alpha device may be considered.
A metal plate is surgically implanted beneath the skin and attached to the skull. The external processor is held on by a magnet, and sound energy transmitted across the skin to the plate and hence to the skull and then the cochlea.
Advantages
- Simple surgery, short healing time.
- No percutaneous fixture or the skin problems associated with a percutaneous fixture, and no regular cleaning of the site.
- The processor can be attached and removed easily.
Disadvantages
- Potential pressure problems due to the magnet, although the magnet strength can be reduced.
- There will be attenuation of sound energy across the skin, so the gain may be limited compared to a BAHA. In one study the average gain reported was 38 +/- 8 dB.
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