Discovering that a newborn has hearing loss can be a devastating and emotionally difficult experience for many parents, leaving them feeling lost and uncertain about what the future has in store. Babies with hearing loss can do well with early detection and treatment, which is positive news. Yes, they can even cultivate language, communication skills, and strong relationships with the world around them, resulting in a vibrant, rewarding life!
Hearing aids and cochlear implants are two extremely helpful tools for assisting babies with hearing impairments.
Understanding Infant Hearing Loss
Causes of infant hearing loss: Numerous factors to think about:
- Genetic factors (even without a family history)
- Infections present at birth such as cytomegalovirus (CMV) or rubella.
- Complications at birth, such as lack of oxygen or prematurity
- Certain medications used in neonatal intensive care
The most significant step? Early detection. That’s why infants in the United States are evaluated for hearing loss before leaving 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) started by 6 months
Reaching these developmental milestones is essential for babies to achieve optimal progress in speech, language, and cognitive growth. If you need guidance on these screenings, your pediatrician will be glad to help!
Hearing Aids for Infants
For babies with mild to severe hearing loss, hearing aids are frequently the first avenue of treatment. These little, portable devices amplify audio signals, enabling infants to better detect and comprehend voices and surrounding noises.
Hearing aids are:
- Appropriate for newborns just a few weeks old
- Designed with gentle, cozy earpieces that adapt according to the baby’s development
- Offering secure battery doors 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 routinely update and tweak the hearing aids to ensure they fit properly and work properly.
Cochlear Implants for Babies
If a baby has extreme to profound sensorineural hearing loss and doesn’t improve enough from hearing aids, a cochlear implant may be suggested.
Unlike hearing aids, cochlear implants:
- Are surgically embeded
- Restore hearing by bypassing inner ear damage
- Convert audio into electric impulses that directly activate the hearing nerve
Benefits of Cochlear Implants:
- Endorsed by the FDA for use in babies aged 9 to 12 months
- Most successful when paired with early therapy and family support
- Suggested only after a thorough assessment by an audiologist and ENT specialist
This process includes the use of imaging, auditory exams, and dialogues relating to 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
Following a diagnosis of hearing loss in your infant, a number of choices and resources are accessible to assist you navigate this experience. With the help of pediatric hearing specialists, many 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.
Have questions about your baby’s hearing health? Contact us now to schedule a complete assessment and tailored 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.