For parents of infants, finding out that their baby has hearing loss will feel overwhelming and discouraging. Infants with hearing loss can do well with early detection and treatment, which is good news. Yes, they can even develop language, communication skills, and strong connections with the world around them, leading to a vibrant, rewarding life!
Hearing aids and cochlear implants are two highly beneficial tools for helping babies with hearing impairments.
Understanding Infant Hearing Loss
Causes of infant hearing loss: Numerous aspects to think about:
- Hereditary traits (even in the absence of a family background)
- Infections present at birth including cytomegalovirus (CMV) or rubella.
- Complications at birth, including lack of oxygen or prematurity
- Specific medications used in neonatal intensive care
The most important step? Early detection. That’s why infants in the United States are evaluated for hearing loss before they leave 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) begun by 6 months
Reaching these developmental milestones is critical for babies to achieve optimal progress in speech, language, and cognitive growth. For individualized advice on these screenings, don’t wait to reach out to your pediatrician.
Hearing Aids for Babies and Toddlers
Hearing aids are usually the initial treatment solution for infants who have varying degrees of hearing impairment. These tiny, portable devices boost audio signals, enabling infants to better detect and understand voices and surrounding noises.
Hearing aids are:
- Safe for infants as young as a few weeks old
- Designed with soft, comfortable ear molds that change as the baby grows
- Offering secure battery compartments and child-friendly design features
- Specially individualized by a pediatric hearing expert to fit your child’s distinct hearing needs
As your baby grows, it will be necessary to routinely update and tweak the hearing aids to ensure they fit properly and work properly.
Cochlear Implants for Infants
If an infant has extreme to profound sensorineural hearing loss and doesn’t benefit enough from hearing aids, a cochlear implant might be recommended.
Unlike hearing aids, cochlear implants:
- Are embedded with a surgical procedure
- Restore hearing by circumventing inner ear damage
- Translate sound into electrical signals that stimulate the auditory nerve directly
Advantages of Cochlear Implants:
- Endorsed by the FDA for use in babies aged 9 to 12 months
- Achieve best results in tandem with therapy at an early stage and family support
- Only suggested following a comprehensive assessment by an audiologist and an ENT specialist
This process includes the use of imaging, hearing exams, and discussions relating to future prospects and results
How Cochlear Implants Differ 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: Concluding Thoughts
Following a diagnosis of hearing loss in your baby, a number of choices and resources are available to help you get through this journey. Because of the expertise of hearing specialists who work with children, most young patients are able to obtain language skills that are comparable to those of their peers.
Whether your child is a candidate for hearing aids or cochlear implants, early action can make a long-lasting difference.
Have questions about your child’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.