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Hearing aids and assistive devices that amplify sound (make it louder) can be used with infants as early as 4 weeks old.
What hearing aids are best for children?
Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids are the most common type of hearing aid used with children. An audiologist will help you know what device is best for your child’s needs.
Benefits of behind-the-ear hearing aids include:
Read more about types of hearing aids.
Hearing aids will be adjusted as the child grows and develops. Young children are not able to adjust their own hearing aids. The hearing aid should be easy to check and adjust by parents and family caregivers.
It is good to have hearing aids that are easy to adjust for:
As children get older, they can respond to more complex tests for hearing aid adjustment.
Your child will also need frequent and regularly scheduled earmold changes as the ear grows with age.
Hearing is important for a child’s speech, learning, and development. Hearing loss that occurs at a younger age has a greater effect on a child’s development. Appropriate intervention to help correct hearing loss or make up for the hearing loss can decrease the long-term impact.
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law that ensures free and appropriate early intervention programs for children who have hearing loss.
Early intervention for infants and toddlers is family-centered and include a variety of resources and services. The goals are to:
If a student is eligible for services under IDEA, then a school:
Find more information by visiting Hearing Aids for Children.
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Reviewed: September 2022