Learning that a newborn has hearing loss can be an upsetting and emotionally challenging experience for many parents, leaving them feeling lost and unclear about what the future has in store. But the good news is: With early diagnosis and treatment, infants with hearing loss can thrive. Indeed, they are able to acquiring linguistic skills, refining their communication skills, and forming profound connections with their surroundings, inevitably bring about a rich and satisfying life.
Hearing aids and cochlear implants are two highly helpful tools for assisting babies with hearing loss. Below, we take a look at how they function and how to know which one is right for your child.
Comprehending Hearing Loss in Infants
Hearing loss in infants can be triggered by a variety of factors, including:
- Genetic factors (even without a family history)
- Infections present at birth like cytomegalovirus (CMV) or rubella.
- Complications during birth, including lack of oxygen or prematurity
- Medications often administered in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit)
The most important step? Early detection. Babies in the United States go through hearing loss screening before being released from the hospital. Pediatric hearing professionals follow the “1-3-6” standard:
- Screened by 1 month
- Diagnosed by 3 months
- Intervention (with hearing devices or therapy) begun by 6 months
Achieving these milestones gives babies the best chance for healthy speech, language, and brain development. If you need guidance on these assessments, your pediatrician will be happy to help!
Hearing Aids for Babies and Toddlers
For babies with mild to extreme hearing loss, hearing aids are often the first line of treatment. These little, portable devices boost audio signals, allowing infants to better detect and comprehend voices and surrounding noises.
Hearing aids are:
- Safe for infants as young as a few weeks old
- Designed with gentle, cozy earpieces that adapt according to the baby’s growth
- Equipped with tamper-proof battery doors and pediatric-specific features
- Custom-programmed by a pediatric audiologist to fit your child’s hearing profile
As your baby develops, it will be necessary to routinely update and tweak the hearing aids to ensure they fit correctly and work properly.
Cochlear Implants for Infants
A cochlear implant might be recommended for a baby with extreme to profound sensorineural hearing loss who does not receive adequate benefit from hearing aids.
Unlike hearing aids, cochlear implants:
- Are surgically implanted
- Recover hearing by bypassing inner ear damage
- Convert audio into electric impulses that directly activate the hearing nerve
Benefits of Cochlear Implants:
- FDA-approved for infants as young as 9-12 months
- Achieve best results in tandem with therapy at an early stage and family support
- Suggested only after a comprehensive evaluation by an audiologist and ENT specialist
This process involves the use of imaging, auditory exams, and discussions regarding future prospects 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
Hearing Aids vs. Cochlear Implants: Final Thoughts
If your baby has been diagnosed with hearing loss, you have options and a lot of support. With the help of pediatric hearing experts, lots of children go on to establish 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 lifelong difference.
Do you have any concerns regarding your infant’s hearing health? Get in touch with to us today for a complete evaluation and personalized 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.