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Hearing Loss in Children


Childhood is full of magic, fun, and discoveries. You want to make sure your child can be a part of it all. For those who qualify, cochlear implants can help children with hearing loss make the most of every moment.

Cochlear implants as solutions for hearing loss 

If your child has hearing loss, you may have many questions and worries. Know that your child’s hearing loss is manageable, and they can live a rewarding life filled with sound.

For 30 years, Advanced Bionics has been developing best-in-class hearing solutions for kids with severe or profound hearing loss. We work closely with our sister company Phonak, the global leader in hearing care for children. Together, we have created the most advanced and effective hearing technology.

As your child grows, we will always be there for you, providing the best care and technologies that meet your family’s needs. 



This is why we did what we did.

– Sean Wilkinson, father to Percy



father and daughter using digital tablet

Children and hearing

Good hearing is important in a child’s development. Hearing can affect your child’s speech, language, knowledge, social skills, and emotional well-being.  So, with hearing loss, children may not fully engage and interact with the world around them through spoken language and sound.

A child who can’t hear well may struggle to learn to speak, have a hard time at school, and experience behavior and emotional problems.

Four key factors—age, degree, intervention, and support—can determine what impact hearing loss might have on their lives.



AGE

A child’s first years are the most important for speech and language development. The longer a young child with hearing loss misses sounds, the more difficulty they will have learning to listen and talk.

DEGREE

The more (or degree) of hearing loss, the greater impact it causes.

INTERVENTION

The sooner you find treatment for your child’s hearing loss, the better.

SUPPORT

The right hearing solution, and enough support and therapy, can help a child develop speech and language just like any other.

DID YOU KNOW?


Children learn language quickly, adding up to 20 new words a day to their vocabulary between ages two and six.1


Managing hearing loss in children

Once your child has been diagnosed with hearing loss, it’s important to take care of it right away. Make sure they hear well again as soon as possible, so that they don’t miss learning opportunities through hearing.

You will be introduced to a team of professionals who will answer all your questions. They can help you find the best hearing solutions and care for your child. 

Usually, children who have hearing loss will be fitted with hearing aids. While hearing aids are usually a great solution for children with mild-to-moderate hearing loss, cochlear implants are the leading option for those with severe-to-profound hearing loss.2

Your team of hearing care professionals will see how your child hears with hearing aids first, and then decide if cochlear implants may help them more.

ARE COCHLEAR IMPLANTS GOOD FOR CHILDREN?

A cochlear implant can help a baby or toddler with significant hearing loss hear speech and learn to talk. For older children, hearing through a cochlear implant can help them learn in school, make friends, and enjoy music.



  1. World Health Organization. Child Hearing Loss. Act Now, Here’s How! https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/204507/WHO_NMH_NVI_16.1_eng.pdf

  2. Eddins, DA. (2014). Sandlin’s Textbook of Hearing Aid Amplification. p.660.