In the Jan. 22, 2008, issue of The ASHA Leader, the article "Unilateral Hearing Loss in Children" referred to the "bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA)." Please be aware that the Baha® is no longer an acronym but a registered name for the product manufactured by Cochlear Americas. Medicare now recognizes the Baha® as an "osseointegrated auditory prosthesis" or an "osseointegrated cochlear stimulator," and it is no longer classified as a hearing aid. Calling it such can cause confusion for patients, as Medicare very clearly excludes hearing aids. Additionally, continued reference to it as a "bone-anchored hearing aid" can cause big issues with reimbursement from private insurance companies. Please use the correct terminology in future features.
Shea Becker
Iowa City, IA
shea-becker.uiowa.edu
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