It is not uncommon for parents to have a certain amount of fear and apprehension when they first realise their child is perhaps not hearing well. Some basic information on children’s hearing aids can go a long way to assuage that fear.

The first concern many parents have is how old their child must be before he or she can be fitted with a hearing aid. Actually, modern technology is so advanced that we are now able to fit infants as young as four weeks old with a hearing device.

In situations where the child is extremely young and lacking communication skills, there are specific types of hearing aids which enable the parent to control the device. These devices are most often digital and will allow the parent to adjust the degree of amplification, frequency response and set maximum limits in amplification so as not to cause further injury.

If you have a child who is hearing impaired, talk to a certified audiologist about the options available to you. However, the most common device for children is called a BTE, which stands for ‘behind the ear.’ There are a number of reasons why BTEs are preferable for children but primarily because they can be detached and changed along the way as your child grows.

BTE hearing aids also conform well to various earmolds and the earmold itself is easily cleaned. Also, parents can check the device in order to make adjustments as needed because it is easily removed. In fact, BTEs are soft and will be most comfortable for small ears.

Any concerns you have can be addressed with an audiologist but one thing you can rest assured in. Hearing aids have come a long way and we are now able to control them with much better accuracy. There is nothing to be afraid of if you take the time to talk to your hearing aid specialist and arm yourself with the information you need.