Pioneering Bone Anchored Hearing Aid Surgery

For the first time in Sri Lanka, three successful BAHA (Bone Anchored Hearing Aid) surgeries were carried out on two adults and one child. The surgery was done using BAHA implants supplied by Cochlear Ltd-Australia, the world leader in innovative solutions for hearing losses. The Wickramarachchi Institute for Speech and Hearing (WISH) is the local partner for Cochlear Ltd in Sri Lanka who facilitates Audiological and technical support. These surgeries have given new hope and a new life to those who were deprived of the gift of sound, and will continue to do so with its groundbreaking technology.

The only direct bone conduction system available in the world, Cochlear Baha sends sound directly to the inner ear, bypassing any damaged parts of the outer and middle ear. The system comprises of a small titanium implant and sound processor, not much bigger than an adult thumb nail, which is worn behind the ear. The sound processor converts sound waves into tiny vibrations that move through the bones of the skull, stimulating the inner ear to give the user a clear, natural sound.

Severe hearing impairment is a widespread problem that affects millions of people in the South Asian region and "BAHA is the ideal solution for people who have conductive hearing loss where sound cannot easily travel through the normal hearing pathway due to blockages or defects in the ear canal or middle ear. Many people experiencing this type of hearing loss find even the most powerful hearing aids inadequate so they may give up hope of ever living a full hearing life."

"In a recent survey, 90% of patients would recommend BAHA to someone else with the same type of hearing loss. BAHA provides an option so they can reconnect with their world, loved ones and participate fully in society."

"Having access to hearing during the critical development years is a key factor in a child's ability to learn spoken language and attend mainstream school", But "BAHA can provide a child with that opportunity."

Dr. Yasawardana, Consultant ENT Surgeon at Lady Ridgeway Hospital Colombo, performed the first pediatric surgery under Dr. Sunil Dutt's guidance.

Dr. Devanand Jha, Consultant ENT Surgeon at Apollo Hospital Colombo performed second surgery on an adult patient with bilateral atresia, a condition where the ear canals are missing or not fully formed. The ability to reroute sound through the bone and bypass the outer and middle ear completely, makes Baha the solution of choice in this situation.

About bone conduction implants - Cochlear Baha

A bone conduction implant is a medical device that helps a person with conductive (outer or middle ear) hearing loss, mixed (outer/middle and inner ear) hearing loss or single sided deafness. In contrast to a hearing aid, which simply makes sounds louder, Baha sends sound directly to the inner ear (cochlea) through the skull bone, bypassing any defects or blockages in the outer and middle ear.

How Cochlear Baha Works

1. The sound processor captures sound via a microphone

2. Sounds are converted into vibrations which are then sent to the skull bone via a small titanium implant

3. The skull bone provides a direct pathway for sound to travel to the cochlea through bone conduction, bypassing the outer and middle ear

Wickramarachchi Institute of Speech & Hearing together with J.M. Wickramarchchi & Co, has served by providing hearing solutions to more than 1 million Sri Lankans over the last thirty years, and through its aural therapy arm, WISH has already completed more than 100 Cochlear Implant surgeries in Sri Lanka. About 5% of the Sri Lankan population suffers from hearing impairments.

Mr. Mihira Wickramarchchi, President/ CEO of Wickramarachchi Institute of Speech & Hearing says that Sri Lanka has every hearing assessment and all surgical techniques used are the same as in any developed country and WISH, together with Apollo Hospital, Durdans Hospital, Lady Ridgeway Hospital and the National Hospital of Sri Lanka are implementing these surgical procedures. There are many surgeons in Sri Lanka now who are capable of performing these surgeries up to international standards.
