It's crucial for parents of children with hearing loss to recognize that children of all ages have varied demands, but the need to optimize the amount and quality of sound is essential at all ages.
From the beginning of a child's hearing journey, parents will want to take a holistic approach to aid children's social, emotional, and cognitive development with hearing loss. Young children benefit from responsive interactions and language-rich experiences, which help them build a strong foundation for future success in school and beyond.
Today, we’re going to cover the intricacies of selecting hearing aids for a kid or infant-aged child.
Whether you’re choosing an adult or children's hearing aid, the concept behind the devices remains the same. A microphone picks up sound, a processor analyzes the signal (filtering out undesired noises like extra wind noise while amplifying desired sounds, for example), and a receiver (or speaker) delivers the amplified sound deep inside the ear.
While hearing aids for kids are relatively similar to hearing aids for adults, there are a few crucial differences:
A child's capacity to develop speech and language can be harmed by even a slight or partial hearing loss.
The good news is that if hearing issues are detected early enough — preferably by the time a kid is three months old — they can be treated. As a result, it's critical to have your child's hearing tested early and frequently.
However, even if your child passes the hearing test, keep an eye out for indicators that their hearing is normal. In the first year of life, your kid should achieve the following hearing milestones:
As your infant grows up into a toddler, they may show indications of hearing loss, such as:
If you notice any of these signs, it’s time to schedule an appointment with an audiologist, and you may need to look into hearing aids for babies.
It’s challenging to pick one type of device as the best hearing aids for children since each child is unique. However, the different stages in a child’s life can help narrow down which hearing aid will be the most beneficial.
Regardless of their hearing loss severity, almost all infants are given behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids. There are tiny BTE infant hearing aids designed specifically for infants to guarantee that the device fits snugly. The audio waves are delivered to the ear via a dome, a soft, plastic earmold that fits securely in the outer ear. As the kid grows older, earmolds and domes can be updated without replacing the hearing aids themselves.
Children who are self-conscious about wearing a hearing aid device may prefer a more inconspicuous hearing aid, such as an in-the-ear (ITC) type. Keep in mind that as a hearing aid becomes smaller, it becomes more challenging to insert and remove, especially for youngsters with limited dexterity.
They're also less powerful and can't handle as many tasks as bigger devices. A larger behind-the-ear (BTE) model may be the best option for children who have more severe hearing loss. As a kid develops and requires new earmolds, BTE hearing aids are also easier to custom fit.
Talk to your audiologist about your child's specific situation and which hearing aids they recommend.
Avoid hearing aids that need to be adjusted manually.
Because it's more difficult for a kid to learn and remember to change a hearing aid based on their environment and hearing needs (for example, indoors vs. outside on the playground), hearing aids with programs that don't require manual adjustments may be the best option.
Advanced digital hearing aids learn how to enhance the listener's experience depending on their lifestyle and change loudness and microphone orientation dependent on the environment. Although they are generally more expensive than hearing aids with manual adjustments, the assurance that your child hears clearly in every situation is worth it.
Listening to instructions, communicating, and learning in situations where background noise and other distractions might be distracting is challenging enough for a kid with normal hearing, let alone a child with a hearing impairment. Choosing hearing aids with remote microphones and accessories can significantly impact a child's ability to understand what's being said.
It's your responsibility as a parent to ensure that your child's hearing requirements are fulfilled but collecting feedback from kids may be challenging. This situation is where finding an audiologist with expertise fitting hearing aids for children might be beneficial.
During your kid's hearing exam and fitting procedure, these professionals will know how to ask the correct questions and evaluate input from your child, ensuring that your child's hearing aids are both comfortable and functional.
If you have more questions regarding hearing aids for kids and infant-aged children, contact EarPros. We have a network of licensed professionals that can assist your child in having better hearing. Schedule a free consultation with a hearing professional today and browse our collection of hearing aid reviews to learn more about our hearing aid devices.
It's time to finally treat your hearing loss. Sign up for a free consultation with a licensed hearing care professional today to determine if you have hearing loss. It’s the start of your journey towards better hearing.
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