Hearing aids for children

What is a hearing aid?

Hearing aids work by capturing sound, making it louder then sending it down the ear canal, through the middle ear to the inner ear where the hearing nerves are.

Who can they help?

Hearing aids are most helpful to children with mild to moderate hearing loss that may have been caused by:

• damage to the inner ear
• exposure to loud noise
• reactions to certain medications
• head injury
• genetic factors (inherited from a family member).

How do they work?

Hearing aids make sounds louder. There are many types and styles of hearing aids to choose from, but all have similar parts:

• A miniature battery that powers all parts of the hearing aid
• A microphone that picks up the sound signal
• An amplifier that makes the signal louder
• Some hearing aids have a digital processor that might help cancel out feedback (whistling) or change the sound to make it sound better
• A speaker that sends the amplified sound into the outer ear

With the help of a hearing specialist, your child can have a hearing aid custom-made to:

• his/her level of hearing loss
• the shape of his/her ear
• common sound settings such as the classroom, restaurant, listening to music, etc.

What are the benefits of a hearing aid?

Many people with hearing aids report that they:

• help hearing and understanding speech better in most situations.
• allow better participation in group situations and meetings.
• hear soft, gentle sounds they may not have heard for years