Using hearing aids for a child with hearing difficulties: How do you pick the best one?

This article is based on the video by special educator & Auditory Verbal Therapist (AVT), Ms. Kim Chadda, where she helps parents understand the choices to be made and options to consider when picking an appropriate hearing aid to help address a child’s hearing problems.

Why are hearing aids important?

For the child to develop speech and language skills, it is important to improve the child’s ability to hear. In children with concerns of hearing, this can be done through the use of hearing aids.

A child will require to use a hearing aid/implant depending on:

• Their age
• The severity of their hearing impairment.

– Hearing aids are usually recommended for mild / moderate / severe loss.

– Cochlear Implants are usually recommended for severe / profound loss.

It is important for parents to be guided appropriately by the audiologist on which kind of hearing aid to opt for their child. A suitable hearing aid is a must since it serves a dual purpose of 

• Helps improve hearing
• Helps improve speech and language

What other steps are to be taken to improve speech along with the use of hearing aids?

• It is important to follow-up after a hearing equipment fitting. 
• Ensure the child undergoes periodic audiograms / mapping assessments to understand if the hearing has changed after the fitting of the equipment. 
• An audiogram before and after the hearing aid has been fitted can help parents understand their child’s development of hearing.
• A parent may also test to see if the child responds to familiar speech sounds.
• Ask your therapist about using the Ling 6-Sound Test Principles to assess the complete speech spectrum across distances.

Check this video too on Coming to terms with your child’s hearing impairment

If you have questions about Autism, Down Syndrome, ADHD, or other intellectual disabilities, or have concerns about developmental delays in a child, the Nayi Disha team is here to help. For any questions or queries, please contact our FREE Helpline at 844-844-8996. You can call or what’s app us. Our counselors speak different languages including English, Hindi, Malayalam, Gujarati, Marathi, Telugu, and Bengali.

DISCLAIMER: Please note that this guide is for information purposes only. Please consult a qualified health practitioner for safe management.