Learning that a newborn has hearing loss can be a devastating and emotionally difficult experience for many parents, leaving them feeling lost and unclear about what the future holds. But the good news is: With early detection and treatment, infants with hearing loss can thrive. Yes, they can even cultivate language, communication skills, and strong connections with the world around them, resulting in a dynamic, rewarding life!
Two of the most reliable tools for assisting babies with hearing loss are hearing aids and cochlear implants.
Comprehending Hearing Loss in Babies
Hearing loss in infants can be triggered by a variety of factors, including:
- Genetic factors (even without a family history)
- Congenital infections like cytomegalovirus (CMV) or rubella
- Complications during birth, such as lack of oxygen or prematurity
- Specific medications used in neonatal intensive care
The most significant step? Early diagnosis. That’s why babies in the United States are screened for hearing loss before they leave the hospital. Pediatric specialists follow “1-3-6” hearing protocol.
- Screened by 1 month
- Diagnosed by 3 months
- Intervention (with hearing devices or therapy) begun by 6 months
Meeting these milestones gives babies the best chance for healthy speech, language, and brain development. If you need guidance on these screenings, your pediatrician will be glad to help!
Hearing Aids for Babies
For infants with mild to extreme hearing loss, hearing aids are often the first avenue of treatment. These tiny, portable devices amplify audio signals, allowing infants to better detect and comprehend voices and surrounding noises.
Hearing aids are:
- Appropriate for infants 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 fit 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 may be suggested for a baby with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss who does not obtain adequate benefit from hearing aids.
Unlike hearing aids, cochlear implants:
- Are surgically embeded
- Bypass damaged parts of the inner ear
- Transform audio into electric impulses that directly activate the hearing nerve
Benefits of Cochlear Implants:
- Approved by the FDA for use in infants aged 9 to 12 months
- Most effective when coupled with early therapy and family support
- Suggested only after a thorough evaluation by an audiologist and ENT specialist
This procedure includes imaging, hearing tests, and conversations about long-term expectations and results.
How Cochlear Implants Contrast 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 Solutions: A Concluding Analysis
After a diagnosis of hearing loss in your infant, numerous choices and resources are available to help you get through this journey. With the assistance of pediatric hearing specialists, many children go on to develop language skills that are on par with their peers.
Taking swift action can have a far-reaching and long lasting impact on a child’s life, regardless of whether they need hearing aids or cochlear implants to deal with their hearing needs.
Have questions about your baby’s hearing health? Get in touch with to us today for a full 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.