Children with a permanent hearing loss may be fitted with hearing aids.
There are 3 types of aids:
A hearing aid is a small electronic device that can be worn in or behind your ear and makes sounds louder. The microphone receives sounds, and the amplifier makes them louder and sends them to your child’s ear through a speaker.
Your child’s hearing aids will be programmed by an audiologist to match their type of hearing loss.
Australian Hearing can provide hearing aids and other devices at no cost, other than a low annual maintenance fee that covers batteries and repairs.
Bone conductors are bone conduction or bone anchored hearing aids (BCHA/BAHA).
A cochlear implant is a surgically implanted device, which can provide useful hearing sensations by sending electrical signals to the nerve endings in the inner ear (called the “cochlea”).
A cochlear implant goes around the part of the ear that isn’t working and electrically stimulates the hearing nerve directly.
Your child will be assessed at a cochlear implant clinic to determine if an implant is suitable for their hearing loss.
The surgery is done by a cochlear implant surgeon. The surgery may only take an hour, but your child will usually need to stay in hospital overnight.
Developed by the Queensland Hearing Loss Family Support Service. We acknowledge the input of consumers and carers.
Disclaimer: This information has been produced by healthcare professionals as a guideline only and is intended to support, not replace, discussion with your child’s doctor or healthcare professionals. Information is updated regularly, so please check you are referring to the most recent version. Seek medical advice, as appropriate, for concerns regarding your child’s health.