Hearing loss can greatly impact how a child learns and interacts with others. Early detection and intervention are the best ways to minimize the effect of hearing loss on a child’s growth and development. The otolaryngology specialists at Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health specialize in the evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of hearing loss in young children. When it comes to something as important as hearing, one size does not fit all. Our audiologists are specifically trained in pediatrics, with extensive experience working with children to restore hearing for a better quality of life.
Treatment
Following evaluation by a pediatric audiologist, every child receives a personalized treatment plan. Your child’s progress will be closely monitored by both the audiologist and their otolaryngologist.
- Digital hearing aids: Children can be fitted with hearing aids starting in infancy. Periodic screening and on-going evaluation are needed to ensure the hearing aids are helping the child to hear correctly.
- Bone anchored hearing aids: Children who do not benefit from conventional digital hearing aids may find success with this implantable device, which works by stimulating the inner ear through the bone.
- Cochlear Implants: Children as young as 12 months may receive surgical placement of an electronic hearing device into the cochlea, the hearing organ of the inner ear. The cochlear implant uses an electrical current to stimulate hearing nerve fibers and transmit sound to an external device.
Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health is home to one of the largest cochlear implant centers in the world for children experiencing hearing problems.