Treatment
Pediatric Hearing Aids
What are hearing aids?
Hearing aids are small electronic or battery-operated devices that can amplify and change sound. They are used by people with hearing loss. A hearing aid has a microphone that receives sound and changes it into sound waves. The sound waves are then changed into electrical signals.
More than 3 million children in the U.S. have hearing loss. About 1.3 million of them are younger than age 3. More children will lose their hearing later in childhood. Hearing aids can help improve hearing and speech, especially for children with a type of hearing loss called nerve deafness (sensorineural hearing loss). This type of hearing loss may be caused by damaged hair cells (sensory receptor cells) in the inner ear. Or it may be from a damaged hearing nerve. Nerve deafness can be caused by:
- Noise
- Injury
- Infection
- Certain medicines
- Birth defects
- Tumors
- Problems with blood circulation
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the different types of hearing aids for children?
Who may be a candidate for hearing aids?
How can I help my child adjust to wearing a hearing aid?
How can I help my child take care of the hearing aid?
What questions should I ask before purchasing a hearing aid for my child?
Meet the Hearing Aids Providers
Departments that Offer Hearing Aids
Ear, Nose and Throat (Otolaryngology)
Our pediatric otolaryngology experts diagnose and treat a wide range of pediatric ear, nose and throat disorders.