For parents of newborns, learning that their baby has hearing loss will feel overwhelming and discouraging. Babies with hearing loss can do well with early diagnosis and intervention, which is good news. Indeed, they are able to gaining linguistic skills, refining their communication techniques, and forming profound connections with their surroundings, ultimately bring about a rich and fulfilling existence.
Hearing aids and cochlear implants are two highly beneficial tools for helping infants with hearing loss. Below, we will have a look at how they work and how to know which one is right for your child.
Understanding Hearing Loss in Infants
Hearing loss in infants can be triggered by a variety of factors, including:
- Genetic factors (even without a family history)
- Genetic infections like cytomegalovirus (CMV) or rubella
- Issues that may arise during childbirth, including oxygen deprivation or premature birth.
- Certain medications used in neonatal intensive care
The most significant step? Early diagnosis. Infants in the United States undergo hearing loss assessment before being discharged from the hospital. Pediatric specialists adhere to “1-3-6” hearing protocol.
- Screened by 1 month
- Diagnosed by 3 months
- Intervention (with hearing devices or therapy) started by 6 months
Reaching these developmental milestones is critical for infants to reach optimal progress in speech, language, and cognitive growth. For personalized advice on these screenings, don’t hesitate to reach out to your pediatrician.
Hearing Aids for Babies and Toddlers
Hearing aids are usually the first treatment solution for infants who have varying degrees of hearing impairment. These small, wearable devices boost sound, helping infants hear speech and environmental sounds more clearly.
Hearing aids are:
- Safe for infants as young as a few weeks old
- Crafted with gentle, cozy earpieces that adapt according to the baby’s development
- Equipped with tamper-proof battery compartments and pediatric-specific features
- Custom-programmed by a pediatric audiologist to fit your child’s hearing profile
As your baby grows, it will be required to regularly update and tweak the hearing aids to ensure they fit properly and work properly.
Cochlear Implants for Babies
If a baby has severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss and doesn’t benefit enough from hearing aids, a cochlear implant might be recommended.
Unlike hearing aids, cochlear implants:
- Are surgically embeded
- Recover hearing by bypassing inner ear damage
- Convert audio into electric impulses that directly activate the hearing nerve
Cochlear implants are:
- Endorsed by the FDA for use in infants aged 9 to 12 months
- Achieve best results in combination with therapy at an early stage and family support
- Only suggested after a comprehensive assessment by an audiologist and an ENT specialist
This procedure includes imaging, hearing exams, and conversations about long-term expectations and results.
How Cochlear Implants Contrast from Traditional Hearing Aids
Hearing aids:
- Mild to severe hearing loss
- Non-Invasive
- Sound processing amplification
- Starts at Infancy
Cochlear Implants:
- Severe to profound hearing loss
- Invasive (Surgical)
- Converts Sound Electrical Signals
- Starts at 9-12 Months
Comparing Sound Enhancement Solutions: A Final Analysis
After a diagnosis of hearing loss in your baby, a number of choices and resources are available to help you navigate this journey. With the assistance of pediatric hearing experts, lots of children go on to develop language skills that are on par with their peers.
Whether your child is a candidate for hearing aids or cochlear implants, early intervention can make a long-lasting difference.
Have questions about your child’s hearing health? Get in touch with to us today for a complete evaluation and individualized care plan.
Sources:
cdc.gov/ hearing-loss-children-guide/ parents-guide/understanding-hearing-loss. html.
boystownhospital.org/knowledge-center/hearing-aids-babies.
hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/cochlear-implants/childrens-.
cochlear-implants.
dukehealth.org/blog/hearing-aids-vs-cochlear-implants.