For parents of newborns, learning that their baby has hearing loss will feel overwhelming and disheartening. But the bright side is: With early detection and treatment, babies with hearing loss can thrive. Indeed, they are capable of gaining linguistic abilities, refining their communication skills, and forming profound bonds with their surroundings, ultimately bring about a rich and satisfying life.

Hearing aids and cochlear implants are two highly helpful tools for assisting babies with hearing impairments.

Understanding Hearing Loss in Babies

Hearing loss in infants can be triggered by a range of factors, including:

• Hereditary traits (even in the absence of a family background)
• Infections present at birth such as cytomegalovirus (CMV) or rubella.
• Complications during birth, such as lack of oxygen or prematurity
• Medications commonly administered in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit)

The most significant step? Early diagnosis. That’s why infants in the United States are evaluated for hearing loss before leaving the hospital. Pediatric hearing experts follow the “1-3-6” guideline:

• Screened by 1 month
• Diagnosed by 3 months
• Intervention (with hearing devices or therapy) started by 6 months

Reaching these developmental milestones is essential for babies to achieve optimal progress in speech, language, and cognitive growth. If you need guidance on these assessments, your pediatrician will be glad to help!

Hearing Aids for Babies and Toddlers

Hearing aids are usually the initial treatment solution for infants who have differing degrees of hearing impairment. These tiny, portable devices amplify audio signals, allowing infants to better hear and understand voices and surrounding noises.

Hearing aids are:

• Safe for infants as young as a few weeks old
• Made with soft, comfortable ear molds that change as the baby grows
• Outfitted with tamper-proof battery doors and pediatric-specific features
• Custom-programmed by a pediatric audiologist to fit your child’s hearing profile

As your infant develops, hearing aids will need to be calibrated regularly to guarantee correct fit and performance.

Cochlear Implants for Babies

If a baby has severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss and doesn’t benefit enough from hearing aids, a cochlear implant might be suggested.

Unlike hearing aids, cochlear implants:

• Are surgically embeded
• Recover hearing by bypassing inner ear damage
• Translate sound into electrical signals that energize the auditory nerve directly

Benefits of Cochlear Implants:

• FDA-approved for babies as young as 9-12 months
• Accomplish best results in combination with therapy at an early stage and family support
• Suggested only after a thorough assessment by an audiologist and ENT specialist

This process includes imaging, hearing tests, and conversations about long-term expectations and outcomes.

Hearing Aids vs. Cochlear Implants: What’s the Difference?

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 Final Analysis

If your baby has been diagnosed with hearing loss, you have solutions and plenty of support. With the assistance of pediatric hearing specialists, many children go on to develop language skills that are on par with their peers.

Whether your child is a candidate for hearing aids or cochlear implants, early intervention can make a lifelong difference.

Do you have any concerns regarding your infant’s hearing wellness? Get in touch with to us today for a complete assessment 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.