Hearing Implants
A hearing implant can be an excellent alternative when conventional hearing aids are unsuitable.
Bone Anchored hearing aid (BAHA)
A prosthetic screw or magnet surgically implanted into the bone behind the ear under local anaesthetic. An external vibrating hearing device is then attached.
Bonebridge hearing aid
A surgically implanted vibrating device with an external audio processor held in place by the implanted magnet.
Vibrant Sound bridge
A middle ear implant acting directly on the ossicular chain.
Cochlear Implants
There is a separate national programme for cochlear implants run at Crosshouse Hospital in Ayrshire: please see sciponline.co.uk for details. However GPs cannot refer directly to that: please refer to Audiology in NHS Lothian.
Who to refer:
- Patients aged over 16 with mild to severe hearing loss (<65dB HL) struggling with conventional hearing aids as a result of:
- Recurrent infections
- Ear canal stenosis / atresia
- Unhappiness with the sound quality
- Patients aged over 16 with single sided deafness (>80dB HL).
Who not to refer:
This service is for patients previously seen by ENT or audiology. New ear disease (e.g. deafness/perforation/discharge/abnormal appearance of ear drum) must be seen by ENT first.
How to refer:
Please refer by SCI Gateway to Audiology at Lauriston.
Please note that this service is not available at St John’s or East Lothian Community Hospital.
