Bone Anchored Hearing Aids/ Devices (BAHA/D)

Bone anchored hearing aids are ideal for individuals with conductive or mixed hearing losses, or medical conditions such as recurrent ear infections that prevent the use of hearing aids. A bone anchored device delivers sound directly to the inner ear via bone conduction, therefore bypassing the outer and middle ear structures.

There are several different types of bone anchored devices, all consisting of an external processor that delivers sound through the bone via a magnet under the skin or an abutment.

How is a BAHA Different from a Hearing Aid?

A hearing aid makes sounds louder to effectively stimulate the hair cells in ears that may be damaged. This process requires sound to travel through all the portions of the ear (outer ear, middle ear, inner ear) to the hearing nerve.

A BAHA bypasses the outer and middle ear by delivering effective acoustic stimulation to the cochlea directly through the mastoid bone (the bone behind the ear). As such, a BAHA is not the most suitable option for a sensorineural hearing loss due to limited amplification abilities.

What Can I Expect With A BAHA?

Surgically, either the abutment or implantable options are typically done as a day case. If all goes well, you will be home by the evening. Your dedicated ENT consultant and health professional team will provide you with information regarding wound healing and cleaning.

Once healed, typically 2 weeks post-op, you will visit us at Harley Street Hearing to have the device fitted and programmed. Given that a BAHA uses your underlying existing hearing, acclimatisation to the sound happens quickly. Recipients report significant improvement in hearing abilities and speech understanding after receiving their implant.

Meet our hearing implant team

Our expert team of clinical audiologists and leading ENT consultants are highly experienced in middle ear implants and working with patients to improve their hearing.

Romy Cohen

Clinical Lead

Lerissa Pillay

Senior Clinical Audiologist

Mr. Harry Powell

MB BS BSc DOHNS FRCS (ORL-HNS)

Mr. Harry Powell is a leading Consultant ENT surgeon with a wealth of experience in treating both children and adults. He completed his medical education at the United Medical and Dental Schools of Guy’s and St Thomas’ in London, followed by foundational surgical training in Bristol. His specialist ENT training took place at several prestigious London teaching hospitals.

Mr. Powell was awarded the Graham Fraser Memorial Fellowship and two Royal College of Surgeons grants for advanced surgical training in ear surgery and auditory implantation in Sydney, Australia. There he learned endoscopic ear surgery techniques and has subsequently developed this part of his practice in conjunction with the traditional microscopic techniques.

Since September 2016, Mr. Powell has served as a Consultant Otologist and Auditory Implant Surgeon at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. His extensive areas of expertise include general ENT surgery, ear infections, hearing loss, mastoid and middle ear surgery, hearing implants, tinnitus, vertigo, balance issues, microtia and atresia, sinonasal congestion, voice and swallowing disorders, and taste or smell problems.

Mr. Powell has published widely in the scientific literature and has authored three book chapters. His passion for patient care and commitment to innovation make him a leading figure in the field of otology.

Professor Dan Jiang

MBBS PHD FRCSI FRCSI(ORL-HNS)

Professor Dan Jiang is a respected ear surgeon in the UK and Europe, specializing in otology and skull base surgery. He is a Consultant Otologist and Skull Base Surgeon and is one of the UK’s most experienced cochlear implant surgeons. Professor Jiang has been at the forefront of developing techniques for preserving hearing and cochlear structures during cochlear implant procedures.

He has performed cochlear implants on very young patients, including the youngest child in the UK, and has expertise in treating patients with malformed cochleas. He also leads a skilled paediatric Auditory Brainstem Implant team.

Based at St. Thomas Hearing Implant Centre, Professor Jiang has been an active contributor to professional groups, served as a trustee for the British Cochlear Implant Group (BCIG) and on the Royal Society of Medicine (RSM) Otology Council, each for six years.

He is currently an executive council member of the European Academy of Otology and Neurotology (EAONO). In addition to his clinical work, he is a Professor of Otology and Hearing Implant Surgery at King’s College London, where he focuses on educating and training future specialists, as well as researching ways to optimize hearing implant outcomes and regenerate damaged cochleas.

Mr. Ananth Vijendren

BM, MRCS, MRCS (ENT), FRCS (ORL-HNS), PhD

Mr. Ananth Vijendren is a highly accomplished Consultant ENT surgeon with a distinguished career in both clinical practice and academic research. He obtained his medical degree from the University of Southampton and completed his foundation training in Basingstoke, where his passion for ENT disorders was ignited.

Following this, he ranked among the top nationally and was recruited into postgraduate surgical and ENT training in the East of England. Mr. Vijendren further specialized through an Otology and Hearing Implant fellowship at Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge.

During this fellowship, he honed his skills in complex ear surgeries, hearing reconstruction, and cochlear implantation. His dedication and expertise led him to complete his training six months ahead of schedule, a rare achievement in the field. Since 2019, Mr. Vijendren has been serving at the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, where he leads the hearing and balance service at Lister Hospital.

His clinical practice encompasses a wide range of ENT conditions, with a particular focus on ear-related diseases, balance disorders, and hearing reconstruction. He frequently performs surgeries for tympanic membrane perforations, cholesteatoma, and hearing implantations.

In addition to his clinical work, Mr. Vijendren is deeply involved in research, having completed a PhD that investigates occupational hazards affecting ENT surgeons and their impact on clinical performance. He has published numerous articles in prestigious journals and presented his work internationally, earning accolades for his contributions to the field. His passion for education led him to co-author and develop ENTsho.com, a freely accessible online ENT textbook for health professionals.

Mr. Vijendren is known for his organized, efficient, and compassionate approach to patient care. He strongly advocates for evidence-based medicine, tailoring treatments to meet the unique needs of each patient to ensure the highest quality of care and patient satisfaction.

Why choose Harley Street Hearing?

We are the home of independent audiology in London, dedicated to providing exceptional services and after care to every patient, ensuring the highest standards of care.

We pride ourselves on our high level of expertise, with a team of some of the most highly regarded audiologists in the industry. We put our patients first and always offer a personalised approach that addresses their individual needs.

At Harley Street Hearing, we are proud to offer a variety of implants to suit your hearing needs. Please click on the links to read about cochlear implants or middle ear implants.