Brooke Update

A few weeks ago our family drove to Spokane to meet with Brooke's ENT. 

This appointment was important because we knew it was time to talk surgery options for Brooke. After a hearing test we met with Dr. Olds. We talked about all the options and asks many many questions we decided to have her hearing aid planted on her head as soon as she is 5 (march 17th).

This will be done in 2 outpatient procedures. The first will be done in March and the second 4 months later. I feel glad that we have a plan and things are moving forward but I think any parent has a hard time with a child going into surgery.

Another great thing about doing the surgery in March is both surgeries will be done before Kindergarten. I am glad we will not need to pull her out of school for surgery. 

So that is the update with Brooke's hearing. I will keep everyone posted when it gets closer.

Here is a little more information on this implant:

The Bone Anchored Hearing Aid (BAHA) system utilizes direct bone conduction, which allows the bone to transfer sound to a functioning cochlea – thereby bypassing the middle ear.  This unique hearing treatment is the only system of its kind cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat hearing loss.
One reason the Baha system works so well is due to its simple design. The Baha system combines a sound processor with an abutment and a small titanium implant. The implant is placed behind the non-functioning ear. Surgery is minor, and Baha recipients report a wide range of advantages over other hearing devices.

The BAHA Device is a surgically implantable system for treatment of hearing loss that works through direct bone conduction



It allows sound to be conducted through the skull bone (vs. Via the middle ear)
It is a treatment for conductive hearing losses
–Congenital external auditory canal atresia
–Chronic ear infections,

It can be used for Single sided deafness
The BAHA is placed on side of deaf ear.  It transfers sound through bone conduction to the other side.
It stimulates cochlea of normal hearing ear, resulting in a sensation of hearing from deaf ear.
Giving the patient the ability to have stereo hearing results in:
–Improved understanding of speech, especially in background noise
–Aids in the localization of sound