What's your review of Cochlear Osia 2 System?

Posted by edemmenegger @edemmenegger, Jun 12, 2021

I am getting the implants in a week or so. Would like to hear from people who are using these bone conduction devices.

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2hearagain | @2hearagain | May 30 8:59pm

Do you like the Osia? Any issues with it?

Stephanie (she/her/hers) | @sam2678 | Oct 21 11:46am

In reply to @2hearagain "Do you like the Osia? Any issues with it?" + (show)

LOVE IT! No issues with it.

daveshaw | @daveshaw | Oct 22 9:12am

In reply to @sam2678 "LOVE IT! No issues with it." + (show)

I feel like my hearing is suddenly getting significantly worse. I recently purchased new Signia IX 7 hearing aids and still have trouble with hearing in large groups of people.
Without them I feel I can barely hear.
I have always heard getting Cochlear implants was a major step and it can take quite awhile to learn to hear again once you have them implanted.
Can you walk me through your experience? It is always better talking to someone who has recently had the procedure done.
I look forward to hearing from you and anyone else that has recently had Cochlear Implants.

Stephanie (she/her/hers) | @sam2678 | Oct 22 9:25am

In reply to @daveshaw "I feel like my hearing is suddenly getting significantly worse. I recently purchased new Signia IX..." + (show)

Hi Dave,
The Osia isn't a cochlear implant--it's a bone-anchored conduction device. It can get confusing because the brand/manufacturer of the Osia is named Cochlear and the Osia is an implant--but it isn't a cochlear implant.
Cochlear implants (and this is my low-tech understanding) get wired right into the auditory nerve and, as you said, many people have to kind of retrain their brains to learn to interpret what they're "hearing" as the sounds they're used to hearing. Conversely, bone-anchored conduction devices are attached/anchored onto the skull, behind the ear. They have external pieces that pick up sound via an external microphone, and the sound is transmitted electronically to a vibrating piece that rest on the skull. The piece vibrates and your ear receives those vibrations just like it receives regular sound. The Osia's external piece connects to the internal component via magnet. There are no wires and it doesn't access your auditory nerve, like cochlear implants do. The sound is just like the regular sound you're used to hearing so there's no need to retrain your brain and you can enjoy music as much as you ever did with traditional hearing. It's truly amazing. I like not having hearing aids in my ear and I love that what I hear is just like natural sound. The magnet is comfortable to the point of forgetting that you're wearing the device.
Let me know if you have any additional questions!

Stephanie (she/her/hers) | @sam2678 | Oct 22 9:30am

In reply to @sam2678 "Hi Dave, The Osia isn't a cochlear implant--it's a bone-anchored conduction device. It can get confusing..." + (show)

This article describes the difference between cochlear implants and bone-anchored devices: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/bone-anchored-hearing-aid-vs-cochlear-implant#overview

tinytoon31 | @tinytoon31 | Oct 22 9:36am

Hi!
I have the Osia 2 since Jan 2022. And sadly it’s not very helpful to me. I have SSD on one side. The challenging moments are in crowded, louder places like a restaurant, at work ( I work in a hair salon with louder music playing, multiple blowdriers blowing etc) When I wear the device in those challenging places, the transmitting sound is just not loud enough. At a normal speaking voice I still can’t hear the person on my deaf side. And I’ve been to my audiologist twice to adjust the volume and we’re at max at this point. It’s so little helpful that I stopped wearing it completely.
Everyone seems so happy with their device, am I missing anything?

daveshaw | @daveshaw | Oct 22 9:54am

In reply to @sam2678 "Hi Dave, The Osia isn't a cochlear implant--it's a bone-anchored conduction device. It can get confusing..." + (show)

I was excited reading your response and then read two other responses.
It is all very confusing.
I have been wearing hearing aids for probably six or seven years. I just assumed it was because my inner ear hair cells had been damaged.
It appears your procedure has nothing to do with damaged hair cells. Would I even be a candidate for Odis’s.
I am an active 73 year old and after being in sales all my life and getting immense joy from interacting with people this is a debilitating handicap in my life. Who do you suggest I see?
I look forward to hearing back from you along with anyone else reading my post.

skier16 | @skier16 | Oct 22 8:54pm

In reply to @sam2678 "Hi Dave, The Osia isn't a cochlear implant--it's a bone-anchored conduction device. It can get confusing..." + (show)

Have you tried wearing a hat or bike/ski helmet with the Osia?

tinytoon31 | @tinytoon31 | Nov 13 7:06am

In reply to @nat2021 "Hello all! I am new to this group. I seen a lot of questions being posed..." + (show)

Hi! I also have the Osia for 2 years now for my left ear . I do not find it helpful in louder environments like restaurants for example. The background noise overpowers the volume of what the Osia is transmitting. I’ve addressed this to the audiologist and we are at maximum volume. Is this just me or is that normal?