For parents of newborns, learning that their baby has hearing loss will feel overwhelming and discouraging. But the bright side is: With early diagnosis and intervention, babies with hearing loss can thrive. Yes, they can even cultivate language, communication skills, and strong relationships with the world around them, leading to a dynamic, rewarding life!
Hearing aids and cochlear implants are two extremely beneficial tools for assisting babies with hearing impairments.
Understanding Infant Hearing Loss
Causes of infant hearing loss: Numerous factors to consider:
- Genetic factors (even without a family history)
- Genetic infections like cytomegalovirus (CMV) or rubella
- Issues that might occur during childbirth, such as oxygen deprivation or premature birth.
- Certain medications used in neonatal intensive care
The most significant step? Early detection. Infants in the United States undergo hearing loss assessment before being released from the hospital. Pediatric professionals follow “1-3-6” hearing protocol.
- Screened by 1 month
- Diagnosed by 3 months
- Intervention (with hearing devices or therapy) begun by 6 months
Achieving these milestones gives infants the best chance for strong speech, language, and brain development. If you need advice on these screenings, your pediatrician will be glad to help!
Hearing Aids for Babies and Toddlers
Hearing aids are frequently the initial treatment option for babies who have differing degrees of hearing impairment. These tiny, portable devices boost audio signals, allowing infants to better detect and understand voices and surrounding noises.
Hearing aids are:
- Appropriate for newborns just a few weeks old
- Crafted with gentle, cozy earpieces that adjust according to the baby’s development
- Offering secure battery compartments and child-friendly design elements
- Custom-programmed by a pediatric audiologist to match your child’s hearing profile
As your infant grows, it will be required to regularly update and modify the hearing aids to guarantee they fit properly and work properly.
Cochlear Implants for Infants
A cochlear implant might be suggested for an infant with extreme to profound sensorineural hearing loss who does not get adequate benefit from hearing aids.
Unlike hearing aids, cochlear implants:
- Are surgically implanted
- Bypass damaged parts of the inner ear
- Transform audio into electric impulses that directly stimulate the hearing nerve
Benefits of Cochlear Implants:
- FDA-approved for babies as young as 9-12 months
- Most successful when paired with early treatment and family support
- Only suggested following a comprehensive assessment by an audiologist and an ENT specialist
This procedure includes imaging, hearing tests, and conversations about long-term expectations and outcomes.
How Cochlear Implants Differ from Conventional 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 Options: A Final Analysis
If your baby has been diagnosed with hearing loss, you have solutions and a lot of support. Thanks to the expertise of hearing specialists who work with children, the majority of young patients are able to obtain language abilities that are equivalent to those of their peers.
Taking swift action can have a far-reaching and lasting effect on a child’s life, regardless of whether they require hearing aids or cochlear implants to deal with their hearing needs.
Have questions about your child’s hearing health? Reach out to us today for a full 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.