Baha System - For professionals - Cochlear Americas

Is my patient a candidate for the
Nucleus ® Freedom TM cochlear implant system?
Selection criteria for cochlear implant candidacy has greatly expanded
since cochlear implants were first introduced in clinical trials in 1985.
Candidacy changes have been expanded to include:
• Adults and children with more hearing
• Adults and children with more preoperative open-set speech recognition
• Children younger in age
• Persons with abnormal cochleae
Candidates for the Nucleus ® Freedom TM system
include adults and children who meet the following criteria:
Pediatric Candidate Criteria
Ages: 12 months to 24 months
• Profound sensorineural hearing loss in both ears
• Lack of progress in the development of auditory skills
• No medical contraindications
• High motivation and appropriate expectations from family
Ages: 25 months to 17 years, 11 months
• Severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss in both ears
• MLNT scores of 30% or less in best-aided condition
(children, 25 months to 4 years, 11 months)
• LNT scores of 30% or less in best-aided condition
(children, 5 years to 17 years, 11 months)
• Lack of progress in the development of auditory skills
• No medical contraindications
• High motivation and appropriate expectations
(both child when appropriate and family)
Adult Candidate Criteria
Age: 18 years of age or older
• Moderate-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss
in both ears
• Preoperative HINT sentences recognition scores of 50% or
less in the ear to be implanted and 60% or less in the
opposite ear or binaurally
• Pre-linguistic or post-linguistic onset of severe-to-profound
hearing loss
• No medical contraindications
• A desire to be part of the hearing world
Nucleus Freedom BTE
Nucleus Freedom
Implant with Contour Advance
electrode
Nucleus Freedom
Bodyworn
Pure Tone Audiogram Guidelines
Adults Moderate-to-profound SNHL
Children (2-17 yrs) Severe-to-profound SNHL
Children (12-24 mos) Profound SNHL

Baha ® Referral Guideline
The Baha System is the first implanted hearing treatment that
works by combining a sound processor with an abutment and
a small titanium implant placed in the skull bone behind the ear.
The system is based on a process of “osseointegration” through
which living tissue integrates with titanium. Thus, the titanium
implant becomes one with the bone allowing sound to be
conducted via the skull, directly to the cochlea. This process is
known as direct bone conduction.
Baha Divino
Sound Processor (available in right and left side
versions to optimize sound reception from the
built in directional microphone).
As the system allows a bypassing of
the ear canal and middle ear it provides an
attractive alternative to those who cannot
be helped by air conduction hearing aids.
How Hearing Works with a Baha Implant
When fitted together the system’s components (sound
processor, abutment and titanium implant) are connected,
allowing sound to be transmitted through the bone to the
cochlea via direct bone conduction.
The Baha System can be an effective solution for people with
the following hearing impairments:
• Mixed/Conductive hearing loss;
• Congenital ear malformations;
• Single sided deafness (SSD);
• Hearing loss where air conduction hearing aids are not an
option due to conditions of the ear canal or middle ear.
Baha Audiological Indications Mixed and Conductive Hearing Loss
Cordelle/Intenso/Divino — Suggested range of PTA bone conduction thresholds
Guidelines for
Referral — Baha
Baha System
A. Unilateral Sensorineural Hearing
Loss/Single Sided Deafness (SSD)
Criteria for headworn devices:
• Profound hearing loss in the implanted ear;
• Hearing in contralateral ear is better than or equal to
20 dB HL (measured at 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 kHz).
B. Mixed & Conductive Hearing Loss
Unilateral or Bilateral Fitting
Criteria for headworn devices such as the Baha Divino
and Intenso :
• The bone conduction thresholds of the indicated ear
should be within the shaded area (see audiograms below);
45 dB HL for Divino and 55 dB HL for the Intenso
(measured at PTA 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 kHz).
• For bilateral fitting, the recommendation
is symmetric bone conduction thresholds
[ie, there is less than a 10 dB difference on average
(frequencies 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 kHz) or less than 15 dB
at individual frequencies].
Criteria for the Baha Cordelle II bodyworn device:
• For severe mixed hearing losses;
• The bone conduction thresholds of the indicated ear
should be within the shaded area indicated in the table;
65 dB HL (PTA 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 kHz).
www.cochlear.com
Cochlear Americas
13059 E. Peakview
Centennial, CO 80111 USA
Tel: 1 303 790 9010
Fax: 1 303 792 9025
Toll Free: 1 800 523 5798
FUN363 ISS6 MAR09