Question
At what age can a bone anchored sound processor be used with children?Answer
In the U.S., the FDA has cleared bone anchored systems for surgical placement in appropriate candidates age 5 years old and older. For children who are too young to have an implant placed and for other patients who are not suited for implantation, the sound processor can be used on a soft band or head band. (The soft band is an elastic band with a connection plate.) The sound processor is connected to the head band or soft band and works in a similar way to a conventional bone conductor. Due to the attenuation of the signal through the skin with a head band or soft band, patients with conductive or mixed hearing loss should have an average bone conduction threshold (measured at 500 Hz, 1 kHz, 2kHz, 3 kHz) better than or equal to 25 dB HL.
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Teri Sinopoli is an experienced professional in the hearing medical device field with 20 years of clinical, technical, sales and training support. Her background includes cochlear implants and tinnitus rehabilitation, but her greatest fulfillment has been her work in the field of auditory osseointegrated implants. She is now happily engaged as Oticon Medical's Western Clinical Manager where she provides clinical, training, and technical support for the Ponto System as well as management of U.S. clinical studies.