Helping children with hearing loss thrive
Helping children with hearing loss thrive
Being proactive about your child’s hearing is important. Newborn screening can detect hearing loss in babies. However, even if your child passes newborn screening, it’s still important to monitor their hearing as some conditions may lead to hearing impairment as your child grows. Early detection and treatment of hearing loss can help your baby receive the treatment they need to thrive. Monitor your baby’s hearing milestones using our checklist.
Helping children with hearing loss thrive
Being proactive about your child’s hearing is important. Newborn screening can detect hearing loss in babies. However, even if your child passes newborn screening, it’s still important to monitor their hearing as some conditions may lead to hearing impairment as your child grows. Early detection and treatment of hearing loss can help your baby receive the treatment they need to thrive. Monitor your baby’s hearing milestones using our checklist.
Why treat hearing loss in children early
Why treat hearing loss in children early
The early years of your child’s life are a significant period for brain development. Since hearing happens in the brain1-3, any hearing loss may impact brain development, affecting many aspects of your child's life in the future. Providing a child's brain with the auditory stimulation it needs at an early age can help them to achieve their best speech, language, and social skills.1-3 Learn more about the benefits of early intervention.
Why treat hearing loss in children early
The early years of your child’s life are a significant period for brain development. Since hearing happens in the brain1-3, any hearing loss may impact brain development, affecting many aspects of your child's life in the future. Providing a child's brain with the auditory stimulation it needs at an early age can help them to achieve their best speech, language, and social skills.1-3 Learn more about the benefits of early intervention.
Acting early can help give your child a head start to a confident future.
Acting early can help give your child a head start to a confident future.
Watch this heartfelt story from Illian who discovered her daughter Aziza’s profound hearing loss when she was two and a half. Devastated by the diagnosis, Illian researched possible treatments and, after consulting her healthcare professional, chose bilateral cochlear implants. Just two weeks after switch on, Aziza said her first precious word: "Mama."
Acting early can help give your child a head start to a confident future.
Watch this heartfelt story from Illian who discovered her daughter Aziza’s profound hearing loss when she was two and a half. Devastated by the diagnosis, Illian researched possible treatments and, after consulting her healthcare professional, chose bilateral cochlear implants. Just two weeks after switch on, Aziza said her first precious word: "Mama."
Could your child benefit from cochlear implant technology?
Could your child benefit from cochlear implant technology?
Hearing aids work by amplifying sound, which makes them an ideal solution for children with mild to moderate hearing loss. However, for children with severe to profound hearing loss, hearing aids might not be enough for them to understand sounds and learn to speak.6
In this case, a cochlear implant might be an option. Cochlear implants bypass the inner ear to directly stimulate the hearing nerve to provide your child with the clarity of sound and speech they need to help them understand what is being said.7
Could your child benefit from cochlear implant technology?
Hearing aids work by amplifying sound, which makes them an ideal solution for children with mild to moderate hearing loss. However, for children with severe to profound hearing loss, hearing aids might not be enough for them to understand sounds and learn to speak.6
In this case, a cochlear implant might be an option. Cochlear implants bypass the inner ear to directly stimulate the hearing nerve to provide your child with the clarity of sound and speech they need to help them understand what is being said.7
A study shows 80% of children who received cochlear implants before 18 months of age attend mainstream schools.[9]
Together, let’s support your child's hearing journey
Together, let’s support your child's hearing journey
We’re privileged to be beside you on your child’s hearing journey. While this may seem like a complex and uncertain time, we have worked with tens of thousands of families just like yours, and we’re here to support you every step of the way.
If you have any questions or would like further information, contact the Cochlear Care Centre on +60 19 3870188 or email us on sea-hearinghelp@cochlear.com
Together, let’s support your child's hearing journey
We’re privileged to be beside you on your child’s hearing journey. While this may seem like a complex and uncertain time, we have worked with tens of thousands of families just like yours, and we’re here to support you every step of the way.
If you have any questions or would like further information, contact the Cochlear Care Centre on +60 19 3870188 or email us on sea-hearinghelp@cochlear.com
Frequently asked questions
Please seek advice from your health professional about treatments for hearing loss. Outcomes may vary, and your health professional will advise you about the factors which could affect your outcome. Cochlear implants are for the treatment of moderately severe to profound hearing loss. Always follow directions for use. Not all products are available in all countries.
Views expressed are those of the individual. Consult your health professional to determine if you are a candidate for Cochlear technology.
For a full list of Cochlear's trademarks, please visit our Terms of Use page.
^ For moderate to severe hearing loss.
* Based on comparable implant generations released by Cochlear, MED-EL and Advanced Bionics using each manufacturer’s first published CSP data at 7 and 15 years.
References
- Brownell WE. How the ear works –nature’s solutions for listening. Volta Rev. (1997);99(5):9-28.
- Ching TYC, Dillon H, Leigh G, Cupples L. Learning from the Longitudinal Outcomes of Children with Hearing Impairment (LOCHI) study: summary of 5-year ndings and implications. Int J Audiol. (2018 May); 57(sup2):S105-S111.
- JiwaniS, PapsinBC, Gordon KA. Central auditory development after long-term cochlear implant use. Clin Neurophysiol. 2013 Sep;124(9):1868-80. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2013.03.023. Epub2013 May 14. PMID: 23680008.
- Ching TYC, Dillon H, Button L, SeetoM, Van BuynderP, MarnaneV, Cupples, L, Leigh G. Age at Intervention for Permanent Hearing Loss and 5-Year Language Outcomes. Pediatrics. (2017 Sep); 140(3): e20164274.
- Sarant JZ, Harris DC, Galvin KL, Bennet LA, Canagasabey M, Busby PA. Social development in children with early cochlear implants: normative comparisons and predictive factors, including bilateral implantation. Ear Hear. (2018 Jul/Aug); 39(4):770-782.
- Cox, R. M., Alexander, G. C., Johnson, J., & Rivera, I. (2011). Cochlear dead regions in typical hearing aid candidates: prevalence and implications for use of high-frequency speech cues. Ear and hearing, 32(3), 339–348. doi:10.1097/AUD.0b013e318202e982.
- Geers AE and Nicholas JG. Enduring advantages of earlier cochlear implantation for spoken language development. J Speech Lang Hear Res. (2013 Apr); 56(2).
- Potts LG, Skinner MW, Litovsky RA, Strube MJ, Kuk F. Recognition and localization of speech by adult cochlear implant recipients wearing a digital hearing aid in the nonimplanted ear (bimodal hearing). Journal of the American Academy of Audiology. 2009 Jun 1;20(6):353-73.
- Semenov, YR, Yeh, ST, Seshamani, M, Wang, N-Y, Tobey, EA, Eisenberg, LS, Quittner, AL, Frick, KD, Niparko, JK, CDaCI Investigative Team.Age-Dependent Cost-Utility of Pediatric Cochlear Implantation. Ear Hear. (2013 Feb); 34(4):402-412.
- Mauger SJ et al. Clinical outcomes with Kanso off-the-ear cochlear impant sound processor. Int J Audiol. (2017 Apr); 56(4): 267-276. [Sponsored by Cochlear].