Ponto can bypass problems in the ear canal or middle ear

If your hearing loss is due to problems in your outer or middle ear, you may be a good candidate for a bone anchored hearing system like Ponto. Specifically designed to bypass any problems in the ear canal or middle ear, the Ponto system can offer you clearer, more natural-sounding hearing.

There are three main types of hearing loss that can benefit from bone conduction hearing: conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss and a combination of the two, also known as mixed hearing loss.

 

1. Conductive hearing loss 
This occurs when an obstacle somewhere in the outer and/or middle ear stops airborne sound waves from reaching your inner ear.

By sending the sound directly to the inner ear through the skull bone, without it having to travel through the ear canal and middle ear, the Ponto System completely bypasses these obstacles.

 

2. Mixed hearing loss 
This is a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. 

For this type of hearing loss, the Ponto System can first bypass the obstacle in the ear canal or middle ear and then focus on compensating for the sensorineural hearing loss.

 

3. Sensorineural hearing loss
This occurs when there is a problem in the inner ear (cochlea) or auditory nerve. Possible causes include exposure to loud noise, the ageing process and inherited hearing loss.

If you have complete sensorineural deafness in one ear, the Ponto System may be a good solution.

However, in many cases of sensorineural hearing loss, a bone anchored hearing system is not the best solution unless you have eczema in your ear canal and cannot wear a conventional hearing aid.

 

A picture of the outer ear, middle ear, inner ear, auditory nerve, cochlea and eardrum

1. Outer ear

2. Middle ear

3. Inner ear

4. Auditory nerve

5. Cochlea

6. Eardrum

 

Malformations of the outer ear

A common cause of conductive or mixed hearing loss is atresia, a malformation of the outer ear in which the ear canal is either missing or very narrow. Atresia is also sometimes accompanied by microtia, in which the external ear is underdeveloped.
Oticon Medical supports the Ear Community, an advocacy and support group for individuals born with microtia and/or atresia and other conditions related to hearing loss.

Infections, irritation and draining ears

Sometimes conductive hearing loss may be caused by chronic ear infections. Conventional hearing aids can aggravate this, as they physically block the ear canal and therefore increase the risk of irritation and reinfection. With the Ponto bone anchored hearing system, the ear canal is always left open, which helps to keep it dry and healthy.

Find out how the Ponto System can help overcome hearing loss