Child Hearing Treatment

Growing up is quite the adventure, but with a hearing problem, it’s an adventure that’s hard to navigate, no matter how courageous the spirit. Even though it’s essential to social, emotional, and cognitive development, hearing is often a sense that’s overlooked medically. Early identification and treatment of hearing loss in children can lessen the negative impacts it will have on a child’s development, giving them the opportunity to live up to their full potential socially and academically.

Categories of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss can be measured in degrees, ranging from mild to moderately severe to profound deafness. Hearing loss in children typically falls into three main categories.

1. The most common, conductive hearing loss, is associated with conditions in the external or middle ear that block the transmission of sound. These conditions can include ear infection, fluid in the ear, impacted earwax, a perforated eardrum, a foreign object in the canal, or birth defects that alter the canal. Many of these are treatable through minor procedures or surgery.
2. Sensorineural loss, also known as “nerve deafness,” is the second type. This occurs when damage to the inner ear, or to nerve pathways from the inner ear, interfere with the brain’s ability to process sound. Most often, if a child is born with sensorineural hearing loss, it is congenital, meaning it was present at birth. It can also be caused by the use of ototoxic drugs (drugs that damage hearing) during pregnancy, a low birth weight, or treatments for a number of other medical conditions. Although there is no cure for this type of hearing loss, in most cases hearing aids and a family-centered care plan are effective treatments.
3. Mixed hearing loss is a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, and it may include damage to the outer or middle ear as well as the inner ear or auditory nerve. Treatment options are based primarily on how much of the hearing loss is correctable through surgery, drugs, or other methods. The remaining hearing loss is usually treatable with hearing aids.

Symptoms of Pediatric Hearing Loss

Hearing loss can be difficult enough for adults to detect, let alone children, who aren’t always able to articulate the source of their difficulties in life. There are a number of signs to look for if you’re concerned that your child may be suffering from a hearing loss. Take a look at our speech & language development page for more info on signs of normal development.

Hearing Aids for Children

Hearing aids are devices which are used to amplify sound. They are worn by children who suffer from hearing problems, and will consist of several components, including a microphone, loud speaker and circuitry. The microphone is responsible for detecting sound, while the amplifier will increase it and the loud speaker will transmit it within the ear. Most models use batteries to power these components.

Although all hearing aids use the same basic components, they come in different designs, features, and technology used for amplification. While some are analog based, others are digital. Many models will also feature ear molds which channel sound into the ears while increasing the quality. When choosing a hearing aid for their child, parents should select a model based on the severity of their child’s hearing loss, as well as their lifestyle and needs.

Hearing Aid Styles

Hearing aids for children primarily come in four different styles, and these include:

• In the ear hearing aids
• Behind the ear hearing aids
• Mini hearing aids
• In the canal hearing aids

In the ear hearing aids come in the form of a shell that fits into the outer ear. Also known as ITE aids, they are larger than the other variations. Behind the ear hearing aids will come in small plastic containers that are placed behind the ear. This is one of the best styles for children because it is compatible with various ear molds, which will have to be replaced as the child gets older. They are also tough, simple to use and easy to clean.

Mini hearing aids are one of the newest styles, and they also fit behind the ear. However, they are the smallest model available and are very comfortable as they eliminate occlusion while providing better feedback. In-the-canal hearing aids are placed entirely into the ear canal. They are the smallest hearing aids available, and as such, observers may not know the child is wearing them. However, their miniature size may make them prone to being lost or mishandled by children.

Analog vs. Digital Hearing Aids

Analog hearing aids amplify sound waves which are continuous, and will do so for all types of sound. Some analog models can be programmed, and they contain a microchip which allows them to be used in various listening environments, such as libraries (which are often quiet) or restaurants, which may be loud. When the child changes environments, they can adjust the settings by pressing a button. Analog hearing aids are based on older technology and are becoming increasingly rare.

Digital hearing aids are based on newer technology, and in addition to having all the features which are seen in analog models, they can also transform sound waves into digitized signals and can accurately duplicate sound. They contain computer chips which will assess any sounds which are detected in the environment, and will perform sound processing which is highly complex. Digital hearing aids will also adapt to the hearing needs of the child. These digital versions have become the standard models that are available today, and parents with any questions about them should contact us at ENT, Sinus & Hearing Care Center.

If you believe your child is showing signs of hearing loss, please contact us today. We can properly determine your child’s hearing ability, regardless of age, and determine if there is a hearing loss. As a family-centered practice, we encourage your entire family, as well as your pediatrician, to be involved in all aspects of this process.

Additional Resources

National Support Programs and Organizations

Books

• Allum, Diane. Cochlear Implant Rehabilitation in Children and Adults. Whurr Publishers, London, 1994.
• Barnes, Judith M. and Franz, Darla (eds.). Pediatric Cochlear Implants: An Overview of Options and Alternatives in Education and Rehabilitation. Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf, Washington, DC, 1994.
• Clark, G. M., Cowan, R. and Dowell, R. (eds.) Cochlear Implantation for Infants and Children: Advances. Singular Publishing Group, 1997.
• Estabrooks, Warren (ed.). Cochlear Implants For Kids. Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf, Washington, DC, 1998.
• McCormick, Barry, Archibold-Mphil, Sue and Sheppard, Sarah. Cochlear Implants for Young Children. Whurr Publishers, London, 1994.
• Niparko J., Kirk K.. et al. (eds.). Cochlear Implants: Principles & Practices. Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 1999.
• Nevins, Mary-Ellen and Chute, Pat. Children with Cochlear Implants within Educational Settings. Singular Publishing Group, 1996.
• Tye-Murray, Nancy. Cochlear Implants and Children: A Handbook for Parents, Teachers and Speech and Hearing Professionals. Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf, Washington, DC, 1992.
• Waltzman, S. B. and Cohen, N. L. (eds.). Cochlear Implants. Thieme Medical Publishing, 2000.

Frequently Asked Questions