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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@billf51

I had my OSIA2 bone conduction implant surgery (exactly) one week ago today. My Neuro-Otologist has tried 3 various incisions over the past 3-4 yr’s, and found the last one used on myself (upside down “U”) the least uncomfortable for his patients. While each patients pain tolerance is different; I can attest that I’ve experienced little or no discomfort from day one. While I had 3 pain med’s available to me ranging from Advil-dual, Gabapentin & Magnesium & Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen, I’ve only utilized the Advil-dual on-and-off to eliminate random “slight” ache at the incision sight mainly at night prior to going to bed to assure a restful sleep.
While not all having the surgery have experienced the following, I have. The top, rear and side of my scalp of incision still has a numbing sensation, which is due to the nerve endings acclimating to surgery. Supposedly this could possibly last up to 2-months. I personally suffered tinnitus due to my sudden onset of single sided injury back in May 2019, that has been seemingly accentuated since last weeks surgery, which again should dissipate over time.
My first post-op appointment is next week, and fitting/programming on Aug. 30. Follow your doctors post-op instructions and you’ll do well. In a side note this is an excellent site for obtaining feedback from others having the OSIA2 surgery and use of their transducer

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Unfortunately my tinnitus has not abated following my Osia 2 implant in November, 2022. However, with the improvement in hearing, I find that I focus less on the tinnitus than prior to surgery.

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@joezz

Unfortunately my tinnitus has not abated following my Osia 2 implant in November, 2022. However, with the improvement in hearing, I find that I focus less on the tinnitus than prior to surgery.

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Good to know. Thank you! Albeit, while I didn’t anticipate my tinnitus going away, guess I was more curious if (a) yours worsened following your surgery? and (b) did it eventually dissipate to its original state after a while?
Your input and feedback always helpful & appreciated

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My tinnitus did not get worse post surgery. When I got the Osia 2 implant I had no expectation that it would disappear. It’s about the same as it was pre surgery.

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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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Albeit reading your input 2-yrs later; I am only 1-wk post-op from my OSIA 2 surgery and AWTG my fitting on Aug 30 ‘23.
Your input was very helpful and encouraging. Thank you

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@billf51

Albeit reading your input 2-yrs later; I am only 1-wk post-op from my OSIA 2 surgery and AWTG my fitting on Aug 30 ‘23.
Your input was very helpful and encouraging. Thank you

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I am glad my journey was helpful. I don't know if you saw my later post where I lost my external processor at the vets office and was able to track where I lost it to no avail. After searching for a couple of weeks and returning several times to see if anyone turned it in, I gave in and had to get a refurbished one. It is okay, but does not seem to be as good as my other one. Just be careful with the tether. The tether clips do not last long and break easily which is why I lost mine. Other than that, I am still amazed at the difference it has made...not perfect, but much better than not hearing anything at all.

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@lmayo

I am glad my journey was helpful. I don't know if you saw my later post where I lost my external processor at the vets office and was able to track where I lost it to no avail. After searching for a couple of weeks and returning several times to see if anyone turned it in, I gave in and had to get a refurbished one. It is okay, but does not seem to be as good as my other one. Just be careful with the tether. The tether clips do not last long and break easily which is why I lost mine. Other than that, I am still amazed at the difference it has made...not perfect, but much better than not hearing anything at all.

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After giving your response further thought, I’m still left wondering why you required a tether and clip with the OSIA 2 transducer magnet? Does the transducers magnet weaken over time? Was it possibly not positioned correctly over the magnet under your scalp? Also, seeing you lost it at the Vet’s office, was it somehow dislodged by your pet rubbing up against it? and why would the tethers clip give way over time? Curious what Cochlear said about that?
I realize that “hair length” could contribute to the transducers falling off due to hair being between the transducers magnet and magnet under the scalp possibly ( as a guy I wear my hair pretty short (1/2 to 3/4 inches long)?
Thank you

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Actually a funny story about my “lost” transducer. Couldn’t find it just before last year’s Super Bowl. It was not attached to my head anymore. I was frantic with all of my guests arriving and kick-off about to begin. Had everyone on their hands and knees looking for it. Found it. Apparently when I bent over to plug something in it magnetized to the wall. So there it was about 4 feet off the floor.

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@billf51

After giving your response further thought, I’m still left wondering why you required a tether and clip with the OSIA 2 transducer magnet? Does the transducers magnet weaken over time? Was it possibly not positioned correctly over the magnet under your scalp? Also, seeing you lost it at the Vet’s office, was it somehow dislodged by your pet rubbing up against it? and why would the tethers clip give way over time? Curious what Cochlear said about that?
I realize that “hair length” could contribute to the transducers falling off due to hair being between the transducers magnet and magnet under the scalp possibly ( as a guy I wear my hair pretty short (1/2 to 3/4 inches long)?
Thank you

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The tether is just a precaution if the transducer is knocked off. I always wear it unless I am at home. Yes, the magnet holds it on unless it gets knocked off. If the magnet is too strong, it makes my head sore. After I lost mine, looking back, there was a lot of confusion that day. It was raining hard, and I was loading two dogs back into my car, and I had med bags, paperwork, and a purse in my hands. I think I hit it on the seat or something as I bent over to get the dogs into the car. In the confusion I did not miss it right away. I searched the car first, and then went back, I searched everywhere multiple times. My concensus was that it either washed away in the gutter or someone found it and did not realize what it was, or it got run over. I do not know what happened, just that losing it made it a sad day for me. I even bought a magnet roller and went over the parking lot and what little grass they had. And yes, I have more hair than you. Lol
Now I hook the the tether onto my earring. It works a lot better than the clip. There is also a headband I wear sometimes. Lesson learned.

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@lmayo

The tether is just a precaution if the transducer is knocked off. I always wear it unless I am at home. Yes, the magnet holds it on unless it gets knocked off. If the magnet is too strong, it makes my head sore. After I lost mine, looking back, there was a lot of confusion that day. It was raining hard, and I was loading two dogs back into my car, and I had med bags, paperwork, and a purse in my hands. I think I hit it on the seat or something as I bent over to get the dogs into the car. In the confusion I did not miss it right away. I searched the car first, and then went back, I searched everywhere multiple times. My concensus was that it either washed away in the gutter or someone found it and did not realize what it was, or it got run over. I do not know what happened, just that losing it made it a sad day for me. I even bought a magnet roller and went over the parking lot and what little grass they had. And yes, I have more hair than you. Lol
Now I hook the the tether onto my earring. It works a lot better than the clip. There is also a headband I wear sometimes. Lesson learned.

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Thank you for your detail explanation. I don’t have two dogs, just a rambunctious 2-yr old Golden retriever and have been caught in an occasional rainstorm here in FL loading him up😉
So it all makes sense! I hear there are three different magnet strengths and that too strong a magnet can cause a headache. Length of hair would definitely create a need for the stronger magnet. I’m sure the original fitting/programming wasn’t a long enough period of time to signal the possibility of your getting headaches. Therefore, at your original fitting did they have the three different magnet strength’s available for you to try? Are the magnets a permanent fixture with the transducer; therefore you had three transducers to try out? or, are the three different magnet (strengths) detachable from the transducer, enabling your audiologist to apply the magnet more conducive to holding your transducer in place?
My understanding is that we have 99-days to switch out the accessories that come with our kit. The answers to the preceding May answer my last question? Speaking of kits, what came with your original kit? Was the tether and clip included in your original kit?
I guess I’ll need to remove my transducer when I wrestle with our Golden 🤣
Off topic, but while wearing your OSIA2 transducer, do you need the use of the TV or mini-mic transmitter? (I was informed my kit included the mini-mic).
Again I appreciate your input while I await my fitting, so please only reply back when it’s con for you. If I hadn’t previously mentioned, my hearing loss was a single-sided sudden onset sensory event 4-yrs ago.

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@joezz

Actually a funny story about my “lost” transducer. Couldn’t find it just before last year’s Super Bowl. It was not attached to my head anymore. I was frantic with all of my guests arriving and kick-off about to begin. Had everyone on their hands and knees looking for it. Found it. Apparently when I bent over to plug something in it magnetized to the wall. So there it was about 4 feet off the floor.

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Thanks for sharing! I can imagine what you were going thru as “your clock was running out of time” before the party “kicked-off”😉
Your story raises more questions about OSIA’s magnetic transducer as you can imagine based on it becoming magnetized to the wall?

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