From the moment a child takes their first steps into the world, their hearing plays a pivotal role in their development, shaping their interactions, education, and overall well-being. Childhood experience is typically filled with stories, learning, laughter, and fun. So, if your child cannot fully enjoy these experiences, it can adversely affect their education and development.
When a child is diagnosed with hearing loss, various solutions can remedy the situation. These solutions include hearing aids and cochlear implants, among others. Hearing aids for children are designed to recognize different sounds and separate people’s voices to develop communication and language.
Pediatric audiology ensures that children do not miss out on the necessary experience and learning for their growth. This article explores how hearing aids can serve as suitable solutions that help children regain their hearing abilities.
Hearing loss in children may occur in different ways. It may happen due to wax build-up, exposure to very loud noises, infection of the mother during pregnancy, toxic medicines to the ear, genetics, or premature birth.
Hearing loss can be split into two main categories: congenital and acquired. Congenital hearing loss is present at birth, while acquired hearing loss occurs after birth, often due to infections, trauma, or exposure to excessive noise. Under these categories, hearing loss may also be sensorineural, conductive, a mix of both, or an auditory processing disorder.
Some signs of hearing loss include delayed or unclear speech, increasing the TV volume above average, or frequently asking people to repeat themselves. Babies show such signs by not being startled by loud voices, hearing certain sounds but not others, and turning their heads when they see you, but not when you call them out loud.
Hearing loss causes children to get frustrated quickly, act out, struggle to get along with other children, and pay attention. They may also become tired more quickly than their classmates and may be sensitive to loud sounds.
Thus, creating an environment where it is easy for your child to listen to sounds is essential. For example, move close to them when speaking. As well, they should sit near the teacher in a classroom and view any person speaking to them.
You can also help your child understand better by getting their attention before giving instructions and showing them who’s talking before someone starts speaking to them.
Children with hearing loss face some challenges that shape their everyday experiences and interactions. They cannot fully participate in their surroundings, in education, and with their friends. The inability to fully perceive and process sound can profoundly affect their development, communication skills, and overall well-being.
Hearing loss can significantly impact a child’s ability to acquire and develop speech and language skills. Clear auditory input is vital when a child is acquiring a language, as it forms the foundation for communication. Therefore, children with hearing loss may struggle to distinguish and reproduce speech sounds. This would cause a delay for them in speech, vocabulary development, and comprehension.
Additionally, the classroom environment poses unique obstacles for children with hearing loss. Following instructions, participating in group discussions, and understanding lessons can be challenging. Their distance from the teacher can interfere with their ability to hear and comprehend. Furthermore, these children may miss out on incidental learning, where they acquire knowledge through overhearing conversations.
Hearing loss can also impact a child’s social interactions and emotional well-being. Feelings of isolation and difficulties in understanding or participating in group activities can lead to frustration, low self-esteem, and feeling left out. As a result, children with hearing loss may face challenges in building friendships. They may need support to develop practical social skills and navigate social situations.
Hearing aids are a leading solution for children with hearing loss. They amplify sound and deliver it to the child’s ears, enhancing their ability to perceive and make sense of speech and other sounds.
Due to technological advancements, there are smaller, more discreet, and user-friendly hearing aids specifically designed for the unique needs of children. Hearing aids for children often have features such as water resistance, tamper-proof settings, and wireless connectivity, which help to integrate them seamlessly into a child’s daily life.
Another solution is cochlear implants, which can be life-changing for children with severe to profound hearing loss. They are surgically implanted devices that bypass the damaged parts of the ear and directly connect to the auditory nerve, enabling children to perceive sound. Cochlear implants are particularly effective for children who do not benefit from traditional hearing aids.
Assistive listening devices (ALDs) can be used to complement hearing aids and cochlear implants. They further enhance a child’s ability to access sound in specific situations. These devices include FM systems, sound field systems, and loop systems.
They help overcome challenges posed by distance and background noise, and ensure that sound is clearly and directly transmitted to the child’s hearing device. ALDs are very beneficial in educational settings because they enable children to participate actively in classroom activities and conversations.
Hearing aids are very beneficial for children with hearing loss; however, getting them used to hearing aids can be a challenge.
First, a comprehensive audiological evaluation is necessary to ensure the hearing aid fits well. That is the foundation of a successful hearing aid fitting for children. This evaluation involves assessing the child’s hearing thresholds and speech perception abilities and understanding their unique communication needs.
Pediatric hearing aids come in various styles, including behind-the-ear (BTE) and in-the-ear (ITE) models. However, the smaller a hearing aid gets, the harder it is to insert and remove. They are also less powerful and cannot support as many functions as larger devices. Therefore, BTE aids are often recommended for children since they are more flexible, durable, and easily adjusted as the child grows.
It is harder for children to remember to adjust a hearing aid based on where they are and what they need to hear. Thus, it may be best to choose hearing aids that don’t require their programs to be adjusted manually. Advanced digital hearing aids are better because they automatically adjust the volume and microphone directly to the environment. They also learn how to optimize the child’s experience based on their lifestyle.
Also, the hearing aid should feel comfortable for the child to use it successfully. Since children’s ears are constantly growing, frequent earmold or dome changes may be necessary to maintain a proper fit. The earmold or dome should create a tight seal in the ear canal, preventing feedback and ensuring effective sound transmission.
Choosing the right hearing aid is essential no matter one’s age. However, you must fit your child with the right hearing aids and accessories to meet their unique and growing needs as they develop and learn.
An audiologist will adjust the hearing aid settings based on the child’s hearing thresholds and any specific listening preferences. Also, it is necessary to have regular follow-up appointments so that the hearing aid programming can be fine-tuned as the child’s hearing and listening abilities grow.
Finally, as a parent, getting feedback from children regarding the fit of the hearing aids can be difficult. In this case, an audiologist would be of great help because they are trained to ask the right questions and interpret the answers from your child.
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