Hearing Solutions

Our research focuses on the assessment, prescription, verification and validation of bone conduction amplification (BCA) devices with a goal of improving outcomes for BCA users and transferring knowledge to other clinicians involved in BCA.

Services

Adult services: Identification, education, assessment, fitting and follow-up with bone anchored hearing systems and implants.
Pediatric services: Identification, education, assessment of school-age children, fitting and follow-up with bone anchored hearing systems and implants.

What is the difference between bone conduction hearing aids and other kinds of hearing aids?

At iRSM, we provide bone anchored hearing aids. A metal implant is surgically placed in the bone behind your ear. The hearing aid device takes sound from the air and turns it into vibrations that are sent through your skull to reach the cochlea, which then sends the sound message to your brain. This kind of hearing aid is meant for patients who have a functioning inner ear but cannot wear a traditional air conduction hearing aid, from either congenital (birth) or acquired (disease or trauma) reasons.

Conventional hearing aids sit in the opening of the ear and amplify the sound coming through the air. This kind of hearing aid is meant for patients with intact outer and middle ear structures. We do not provide this type of hearing aid at iRSM.

The third type of device for hearing loss is the cochlear implant. It may seem similar to a bone anchored hearing aid because both of them involve implanting something in the skull bone behind the ear. However, the cochlear implant is meant for patients who have hearing loss in the inner ear, whereas the bone anchored hearing aid is meant for patients with an intact inner ear but an absent or insufficient outer and/or middle ear. We do not provide cochlear implants at iRSM.

Becoming a patient

To become a patient of iRSM, you must be referred by a physician.

Your first visit

During your first visit at iRSM, you will be asked to complete a medical history form. You will be required to complete a new medical history form every six months. If able, please print and complete this form and bring it with you on the day of your appointment.

If you do not have access to a printer, the form can be completed at iRSM on the day of your appointment.

What to bring with you:

Current list of medications, including herbal and alternative medications
A list of questions you would like to have answered, if applicable
Completed medical history form (if completed and printed at home)

Treatment pathway for iRSM patients

Once the referral is processed, iRSM will schedule a time for you to be seen at a consult clinic
- At this clinic, you will be seen by:
  - An ENT surgeon
  - An iRSM audiologist

Pre-treatment patient education appointment
- If your type of hearing loss determines that you are a candidate for the program, an educational session will be scheduled for you. This appointment may take up to two hours.
Implant surgery
Post-operative follow-up visits
Processor delivery at approximately three to four months
Annual interdisciplinary follow-up as prescribed