For parents of newborns, finding out that their baby has hearing loss will feel overwhelming and disheartening. But the bright side is: With early detection and intervention, babies with hearing loss can thrive. Indeed, they are capable of gaining linguistic abilities, improving their communication skills, and forming profound bonds with their surroundings, ultimately giving rise to a rich and fulfilling life.
Hearing aids and cochlear implants are two extremely helpful tools for assisting infants with hearing impairments. We’ll discover how they work and provide guidance on choosing the ideal option for your child’s needs.
Comprehending Hearing Loss in Babies
Hearing loss in babies can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
- Hereditary characteristics (even in the absence of a family background)
- Congenital infections like cytomegalovirus (CMV) or rubella
- Complications during birth, including lack of oxygen or prematurity
- Certain medications used in neonatal intensive care
Early diagnosis is critical. Infants in the United States go through hearing loss assessment before being released from the hospital. Pediatric specialists follow “1-3-6” hearing protocol.
- Screened by 1 month
- Diagnosed by 3 months
- Intervention (with hearing devices or therapy) started by 6 months
Meeting these milestones gives babies the best chance for healthy speech, language, and brain development. If you need advice on these screenings, your pediatrician will be happy to help!
Hearing Aids for Babies
For babies with mild to severe hearing loss, hearing aids are often the first avenue of treatment. These little, portable devices amplify audio signals, allowing infants to better detect and understand voices and surrounding noises.
Hearing aids are:
- Appropriate for newborns just a few weeks old
- Designed with soft, comfortable ear molds that change as the baby grows
- Featuring secure battery doors and child-friendly design features
- Custom-programmed by a pediatric audiologist to match your child’s hearing profile
As your infant develops, it will be required to regularly update and modify the hearing aids to guarantee they fit correctly and work effectively.
Cochlear Implants for Infants
If an infant has severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss and doesn’t improve enough from hearing aids, a cochlear implant might be recommended.
Unlike hearing aids, cochlear implants:
- Are surgically embeded
- Bypass damaged parts of the inner ear
- Convert sound into electrical signals that energize the auditory nerve directly
Benefits of Cochlear Implants:
- Approved by the FDA for use in babies aged 9 to 12 months
- Accomplish best results in combination with therapy at an early stage and family support
- Suggested only after a thorough assessment by an audiologist and ENT specialist
This process includes imaging, hearing tests, and conversations about long-term expectations and results.
Hearing Aids vs. Cochlear Implants: What’s the Difference?
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
Hearing Aids vs. Cochlear Implants: Final Thoughts
After a diagnosis of hearing loss in your infant, a number of choices and resources are accessible to help you navigate this journey. Because of the expertise of hearing specialists who deal with children, most young patients are able to acquire language abilities that are comparable to those of their peers.
Taking prompt action can have a profound and long lasting effect on a child’s life, regardless of whether they need hearing aids or cochlear implants to address their hearing needs.
Have questions about your baby’s hearing health? Contact us now to set up a comprehensive assessment and customized treatment strategy.
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.
