The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) is taking "inner-ear" hearing aids to a level not yet seen in Asia.

Earlier this year, CUHK staff from the Faculty of Medicine implanted the hearing aid in three patients, aged 35 to 56, who suffer from moderate to severe deafness.

Implanted under the skin behind the middle ear, the new device has three parts - a capsule that houses the electronics, a microphone and a transducer.

Bypassing the outer ear and eardrum, the device makes direct contact with key middle-ear structures.

The surgery takes about two hours, and the healing can take between six and eight weeks.

Michael Tong, head of academic divisions in the department responsible for implanting the devices, explained that direct contact with the middle ear allows sound to be amplified more naturally.

The device, at a cost of about HK$117,000, runs on a battery that must be recharged every night.

The implanted device is suitable for patients with moderate to severe hearing loss when traditional aids fail or cause ear infections.

With the new device, patients can participate in outdoor sports and even wear the device in the shower.

However, the device is not without its shortcomings.

A user surnamed Wong said echos were unavoidable when she tossed her hair.

(HK Edition 11/26/2008 page1)