A Bone-Anchored Hearing Aid (BAHA) works by transmitting sound vibrations through the skull bone to the cochlea. The principal mechanism of hearing achieved by BAHA is:
- A Air conduction through a sealed ear canal
- B Direct bone conduction via an osseointegrated titanium implant ✓
- C Electromagnetic induction through the cochlear fluid
- D Piezoelectric stimulation of the round window membrane
Correct answer: B. Direct bone conduction via an osseointegrated titanium implant
Explanation
BAHA transmits sound vibrations via a titanium implant osseointegrated into the skull bone, directly stimulating bone conduction to the cochlea. This bypasses the middle ear entirely and is indicated in conductive or mixed hearing loss and single-sided deafness. Piezoelectric stimulation describes middle-ear implants, not BAHA.
Reference: Dhingra Diseases of Ear, Nose and Throat, 7th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.