Is it Impossibe to fit a 7 month old with aids? - Hearing Disorders Message Board

instantkarma · 05-24-2003, 12:50 AM

My nephew is detected with profound hearing loss. I have consulted quite a lot of ENT specialist.
One of the ENT specialist proclaims that it is "Impossible" to fit a child at this age with hearing aids.
I have read in few web sites that child who are fitted with appropriate aids early (close to 6 months) learn language skills almost at same age as their hearing peers.

We are really confused and nervous.
Can somebody tell us what to do.

[This message has been edited by instantkarma (edited 06-08-2003).]

mlgable · 05-25-2003, 12:18 AM

You need to see an audiologist about this since they are the ones who dispese the hearing aides. I am sure they can fit him with aides but the audiologist will be able to tell you more.

montag66 · 05-28-2003, 07:46 AM

As mlgable stated, you need to see an audiologist, preferably a pediatric audiologist. Hearing aids are fit on babies all the time. It's not easy and requires a lot of patience from the audiologist, parent, and child. You will constantly be reinserting the earmolds into the child’s ear but the payoff could be normal/near normal speech and language development (depending on the degree of hearing loss). The child should also be enrolled in an aural (re)habilitation program. It is quite possible that he/she has never heard. Just putting a hearing aid on this child would cause chaos. He/she needs to "learn" how to hear. The child has to catch up on 7 months of hearing.

instantkarma · 05-30-2003, 11:06 PM

Thanks mlgable and montage66 for your concerns.Your advice really makes me feel I am not alone in this troubled times.

We have contacted an audiologist(am not sure he is peadiatric audiologist but he has good experience with kids). He has suggested analogue hearing aid for the kid. We are seriouslly considering to fit him with aid pretty soon.
We have also discussed with him for cochlear transplant but that would be possible after 6-8 months.By that time we arrange for money.

Could you please suggest what type of hearing aid would be best for the kid (BTE or body worn, analogue or digital?) given the fact that we are serious about having cochlear transplant.

montag66 · 06-02-2003, 07:54 AM

Well, without the test results and going on what you have reported I would recommend BTE's. A body aid should not even be considered. Analog vs. Digital, thats a tough one. If the loss is truly profound than either will be fine. If you decide on the analog just make sure it's programmable so changes can be made as needed.