For parents of newborns, learning that their baby has hearing loss will feel overwhelming and disheartening. Babies with hearing loss can do well with early diagnosis and intervention, which is good news. Yes, they can even cultivate language, communication skills, and strong connections with the world around them, leading to a dynamic, rewarding life!

Hearing aids and cochlear implants are two highly helpful tools for helping infants with hearing impairments. Below, we take a look at how they function and how to know which one is right for your child.

Understanding Hearing Loss in Infants

Causes of infant hearing loss: Various factors to think about:

• Hereditary traits (even in the absence of a family background)
• Infections present at birth such as cytomegalovirus (CMV) or rubella.
• Complications at birth, including lack of oxygen or prematurity
• Medications commonly administered in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit)

Early detection is crucial. Babies in the United States go through hearing loss assessment before being discharged from the hospital. Pediatric professionals 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

Achieving these milestones gives infants the best opportunity 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 and Toddlers

Hearing aids are usually the first treatment solution for infants who have differing degrees of hearing loss. These tiny, portable devices boost audio signals, allowing infants to better detect and understand voices and surrounding noises.

Hearing aids are:

• Suitable for infants just a few weeks old
• Designed with soft, comfortable ear molds that change as the baby grows
• Outfitted with tamper-proof battery compartments and pediatric-specific 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 tweak the hearing aids to guarantee they fit correctly and work effectively.

Cochlear Implants for Infants

A cochlear implant might be recommended for an infant with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss who does not receive sufficient benefit from hearing aids.

Unlike hearing aids, cochlear implants:

• Are surgically implanted
• Circumvent damaged parts of the inner ear
• Convert sound into electrical signals that stimulate the auditory nerve directly

Advantages of Cochlear Implants:

• FDA-approved for infants as young as 9-12 months
• Accomplish best results in combination with therapy at an early stage and family support
• Only suggested following a comprehensive assessment by an audiologist and an ENT specialist

This process involves the use of imaging, auditory examinations, and dialogues regarding future prospects 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: Concluding Thoughts

If your baby has been diagnosed with hearing loss, you have options and plenty of support. Because of the expertise of hearing specialists who deal with children, the majority of young patients are able to acquire language abilities that are equivalent to those of their peers.

Taking swift action can have a profound and long lasting effect on a child’s life, irrespective of whether they require hearing aids or cochlear implants to address their hearing needs.

Do you have any concerns regarding your infant’s hearing health? Call us now to schedule a complete evaluation and customized treatment 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.