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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@tinytoon31

I’ve been told I won’t be regaining hearing back on the deaf (left) side with the osia. But the microphone on the left side will catch all sound that my ear doesn’t hear and spit it out on the good (right) side.
Your case sounds like you can hear on both sides again.

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OK, I think I understand what you’re saying.
I am completely deaf in my right ear, but I still have everything in there that works, so they drilled into my cochlea up on my right side of my head and that’s where I hear from is up on my head where the microphone is on the right side.
They said the only reason that I did not have the microphone on the other side is because I have everything in there it just did not work, I had all of the phone taken out and fake bone put in because of my ear infections and everything. I think they called the surgery mastoidectomy, or something like that.
I hope this helps you better understand I apologize for not explaining this better. 🙏🏼

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@lmayo

I just had the Osia 2 anchorage system implanted in my right ear on July 13 2021. The short surgery was not painful as I was under anesthesia, and it was just a little uncomfortable for a couple of days. My scalp is still numb on my right side although I am getting more feeling week by week. I received my processor on August 16th, and the change was immediate. Before surgery I was completely deaf on my right side due to sudden hearing loss 2 years ago (with severe vertigo). I tried the Cros, but my ear canal was too tiny to hold it, and it sounded like a tin can, Now I can hear everything through the bone conduction. Although I do have a regular hearing aid for my good ear, I do not use it unless I am going out in public. I no longer need it to watch TV or in one on one conversation because the Osia picks up the slack. I used to view TV with the closed captions because I would miss most of what was said. I can now tell where sound is coming from including when I am driving. I was becoming somewhat reclusive because I simply could not hear anything in a group, and I was also concerned that I could not tell what direction an emergency siren was coming from when I was driving. The Osia has been life changing for me. I do get a mild, occasional feedback, but we are still in the process of adjustment for the processor. I am wearing it for a month and making note of any issues, although I will say there are very few. We can make adjustments when I go back for followup. It has literally opened up my world.
If your ENT considers you a good candidate, you should definitely consider the Osia 2.
In answer to your question about sleeping, you do not sleep with the Osia attached. It is attached to a magnet in your scalp, and you simply remove it to sleep, shower, swim, etc. There is a waterproof cover you can purchase if you wish to use the processor while swimming. For the first three weeks after surgery, I did not sleep on the implant side,, but now I do. I hope this helps. If you have other questions, just post here.
Oh, and one other thing, the audiologist will have an Osia attached to a headband that you can try our to see if it will work for you. Even though the headband made a big difference, it is even better with the magnet on the bone.

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Thank you very much for this detailed response. I am trialling an Osia at the moment with the band on my head. It is changing my life. I must decide whether to proceed with the implant. I am leaning towards a yes. I have yet to trial ordinary hearing aids. Julie

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@julieoz64

Thank you very much for this detailed response. I am trialling an Osia at the moment with the band on my head. It is changing my life. I must decide whether to proceed with the implant. I am leaning towards a yes. I have yet to trial ordinary hearing aids. Julie

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Hello from another Julieo here!

I look forward to hearing what you decide to do about the implant. It's amazing that some of the new tech can be tried prior to surgery. Things keep getting better and better all the time! It has been fascinating to watch the development of cochlear implant technology over the years.

My implant was done in 2005 so it's been a while, but I had friends through HLAA* who had CIs done in the early 80s. Watching them inspired me. My sensorineural bilateral hearing loss was profound at that time but had been diagnosed many years prior when I was a college student.

A research symposium on cochlear implant development was held at the 2022 national HLAA convention last June. It is now posted on the HLAA website. https://www.hearingloss.org/programs-events/hlaa-2023-convention/convention-archives/hlaa-2022-convention/hlaa-2022-convention-research-symposium/

So thankful for my CI and hearing aid which work quite well together.

Good luck to you! Hearing is priceless!!

Julieo4

*HLAA is The Hearing Loss Association of America, a consumer-based organization for people with hearing loss who choose to remain in the hearing mainstream by using technology.

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How long is the recovery? Is 4 weeks enough recovery time to go in a beach vacation? My surgery was moved up and now it’s much closer to the vacation I already booked.
It will be a relaxing vacation but I don’t wanna still be in pain.

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Hope everything went well. How do you like the Osia? Maybe you can let me know how long your recovery was

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@sam2678

Hi--
I just happened to do a quick internet search of Osia to see if there were more user testimonials out since there weren't many when I got mine back in January (activated in February) of this year (2021). I LOOOOOOOVE MY OSIA!
I've had issues with my left ear since childhood and I always considered it my bad ear. I had ear surgery to repair my left ear drum when I was 8 years old, which resulted in my ear canal growing smaller than it should be. I've had moderate hearing loss in that ear since childhood (it's hard to hear conversations well). Then, in October 2020, I went deaf in my right ear (SSHL)--the ear I've relied on all these years!
I work at a college and sometimes teach classes, so I needed a remedy quickly. I did my research and knew I wanted a bone-conduction device. I had my Osia 2 implant surgery in January and the device was activated in February. My out-patient surgery lasted three hours. I was pretty sore (probably from having my neck held to the side during surgery) for about 10 days. Once my swelling went down and the soreness dissipated, I started feeling better. Note: It was all completely tolerable and worth it.
I've got to run, but I'll come back and share more information this afternoon.

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How long was your recovery?
My surgery was moved and now it’s 4 weeks before a relaxing Beach vacation that I’ve booked. I don’t want to still be in pain and wonder if I should cancel my trip.

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@tinytoon31

How long is the recovery? Is 4 weeks enough recovery time to go in a beach vacation? My surgery was moved up and now it’s much closer to the vacation I already booked.
It will be a relaxing vacation but I don’t wanna still be in pain.

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If you are having the Osia 2 bone conduction implant, I can honestly say I never experienced any pain from the surgical procedure. The area stays numb for several weeks, and you do need to treat and take precautions in regard to healing the incision, but no pain.

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I am new to the group. Currently have a BAHA 6, love it but consistently having staff infection around the abutment.
My doctor recommended the OSIA 2 to replace it. Finding very little data from anyone who currently has one.
What is battery life if streaming what I have scene suggest three days max, is this true? How about the location where the processor goes does hair need to be short? Looking forward to a response from someone who currently has an OSIA 2 thanks.

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@galyeanr

I am new to the group. Currently have a BAHA 6, love it but consistently having staff infection around the abutment.
My doctor recommended the OSIA 2 to replace it. Finding very little data from anyone who currently has one.
What is battery life if streaming what I have scene suggest three days max, is this true? How about the location where the processor goes does hair need to be short? Looking forward to a response from someone who currently has an OSIA 2 thanks.

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Hi Galyeanr-
I've had the Osia 2 since January 2021. I highly recommend it to those who can benefit from bone conduction hearing devices. Your hair will only need to be cut short (shaved actually) at the implant site for the surgery itself (the surgery folks shave it). I have long hair and it doesn't bother the Osia at all. The Osia is super comfortable to wear. I don't feel it at all while I'm wearing it. My batteries last about two days. The Osia uses the Power One Cochlear Implant Batteries, which aren't crazy expensive (about $65 for 120 batteries, so about $80+/year). I've had no site irritations or infections whatsoever with the Osia. I've posted some pics below of the site post-surgery and the Osia/hair after healing. I hope this helps! If you have any additional questions, just ask!

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@dbarry

My son is 17 years old has has been wearing the original BAHA since he was 4. He still has the single-sided transcutaneous abutment on his right side and recently implanted and activated the Osia. So far he likes it. He was very excited to try the Aqua + system to finally get to hear while enjoying water activities. He put the device in water mode, but it still “squealed” when he was submerged. Is there any way to rectify this?

Blessings,
Doug

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Hi Doug,
Sorry for the late response. I have the Aqua system too, but didn't experience the squealing (I've only used it once). Check with your audiologist or Cochlear rep--they should be able to help you sort that out.
Best,
SM

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