Hearing Aids for Children: How the Right Choice Is Made

AudiologyOctober 13, 20268 min read

The best hearing aids for children are the ones an audiologist selects and programs after a paediatric hearing assessment, fitted so the child can wear them all day and checked often as the child grows. There is no single model that is best for every child. Young children are usually fitted with behind-the-ear (BTE) style hearing aids, and the choice of style, settings and accessories follows the child's test results, age and daily life.

Parents often start by asking which brand or model to buy. A more useful first question is what the child's hearing test shows, and whether anything needs medical attention first. Hearing aids for children are part of a wider plan that includes follow-up visits, listening and language support, and good communication with school.

What the audiologist decides first

Before any hearing aid is discussed, the child needs a hearing assessment suited to their age. At Jordan Hearing & Speech, children's hearing tests are a dedicated service, and hearing aids for children are chosen and fitted after a paediatric hearing assessment, with close follow-up as the child grows.

The assessment helps the audiologist answer several questions:

Is there a hearing loss, and in one ear or both? The type and degree in each ear shape every later decision.
Is a medical review needed first? Fluid behind the eardrum, ear infections or other ear conditions may need an ENT doctor before hearing aids are considered.
Are hearing aids the right step? For some children another approach, or a referral for other assessments, may come first.
What does the child need to hear? Speech at home, the teacher's voice in class and sounds during play all matter.

These are clinical decisions. The audiologist, and the ENT doctor where needed, make them with you after testing; a parent cannot make them from a product page. If you have not yet had your child tested, our children's hearing guide explains how hearing is checked from newborn screening to school age.

Why behind-the-ear hearing aids are common for children

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that a young child is usually fitted with behind-the-ear hearing aids because they are better suited to growing ears. NIDCD adds that in-the-ear hearing aids are usually not worn by young children because the casings need to be replaced often as the ear grows, and that canal hearing aids are usually not recommended for young children.

With a BTE, the hearing aid itself sits behind the ear and sound travels to an earmould in the ear. As the ear grows, the earmould generally needs to be remade so the fit stays comfortable and sound does not leak out and cause whistling. Your audiologist will tell you how often your child's earmoulds should be checked; it depends on the child's age and growth.

Other styles may be considered for older children and teenagers, but this is a decision for the audiologist after testing.

What about the hearing aids in our catalogue?

Our hearing aids catalogue lists the Danavox families we offer as an authorised Danavox dealer in Oman. These families are not described by Danavox as children's products, and we do not present any model as a children's hearing aid. They include BTE designs (Mini BTE, Standard BTE, Power BTE and Super Power BTE) as well as receiver-in-canal designs, and several families include rechargeable models.

Whether any of these is suitable for a particular child is decided by the audiologist after the paediatric assessment. Prescription hearing aids can be used by people of any age, while the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) limits over-the-counter hearing aids to adults aged 18 and over, so a child's hearing aids should always come through a hearing professional.

Hearing aids at school

The classroom is one of the hardest places for a child with hearing loss: the teacher moves around, classmates talk and the room can echo. A few steps help:

Tell the school. Share what the audiologist recommends with the teacher, including where the child should sit.
Seat the child well. Close to the teacher and away from noisy spots such as doors or air-conditioning units is usually helpful.
Check the hearing aids each morning. Confirm they are working and charged or have fresh batteries before school.
Ask about a remote microphone. The CDC describes FM systems as devices that send sound from a microphone used by the speaker to a receiver worn by the listener, to help in background noise.

In the Danavox accessories range, the Multi-Mic+ is a remote microphone that works with compatible hearing aids. Danavox describes it as supporting speech understanding in noise and extending hearing range by up to 80 feet. You can see it on the accessories page; whether it suits your child and their hearing aids is a question for the audiologist.

Questions to ask the audiologist

Parents usually arrive at the fitting with many questions, and writing them down beforehand helps. Useful ones include:

Why is this style the right one for my child?
Does the hearing aid use replaceable batteries or is it rechargeable, and how do we handle it each day?
How can we tell it is working, and which signs mean we should come back early?
How often are follow-up visits, and when should the earmould be checked?
What should we tell the school, and would an accessory such as a remote microphone help?
Would auditory rehabilitation or a speech and language assessment help alongside the hearing aids?

Helping your child accept hearing aids

Many children accept hearing aids quickly once they notice they hear better; others need time and patience. It helps to talk about the hearing aids calmly and positively, to start wearing them at quiet, relaxed times, and to praise the child for wearing them. Older children may like to help choose a colour or a case where that is possible. If a child keeps refusing the hearing aids or seems uncomfortable, tell the audiologist, because an uncomfortable earmould or a setting that needs adjusting may be the reason.

Daily life with hearing aids

Children do best when hearing aids are worn consistently, from waking until bedtime, rather than only at school. Practical tips for parents:

Make putting the hearing aids on part of the morning routine, like brushing teeth.
Keep spare batteries, or the charger, in a fixed place out of the child's reach. NIDCD advises keeping replacement batteries and small hearing aids away from children and pets.
Check for discomfort, redness or whistling, and mention it at the next visit.
Note any changes in how your child responds to sounds or speech.

Follow-up visits matter as much as the first fitting. Programming, fine-tuning and periodic check-ups are part of after-sales care at our clinic. Some children also benefit from auditory rehabilitation or a speech and language assessment, which the audiologist can suggest when needed.

If a child seems to lose hearing suddenly in one or both ears, do not wait for a routine appointment: seek urgent medical care the same day.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best hearing aid for a child?

There is no single best hearing aid for every child. The audiologist chooses the style and settings after a paediatric hearing assessment, with an ENT doctor involved where needed. Young children are usually fitted with behind-the-ear hearing aids because they suit growing ears.

Do you have hearing aids made for children?

The Danavox families in our catalogue are not marketed as children's products, and we do not describe any model as a children's hearing aid. Whether a model is suitable for a particular child is decided by the audiologist after testing.

How often do earmoulds need to be changed?

Earmoulds generally need to be remade as a child's ear grows, so the fit stays comfortable and sound does not leak. How often depends on the child's age and growth, and your audiologist will tell you when to come back.

Can my child use a remote microphone at school?

A remote microphone can help a child hear the teacher's voice in a noisy classroom. The Danavox Multi-Mic+ works with compatible hearing aids. Ask the audiologist whether it suits your child's hearing aids and needs.

Book an appointment

If you are concerned about your child's hearing, start with a children's hearing test. No referral is needed. Book an appointment at our clinic in Bousher, Muscat, opposite Oman Mall, or call or WhatsApp +968 9171 8373. For a list of warning signs by age, read signs a child may not be hearing well.

Sources

This article is general information and does not replace advice from a qualified professional.

Children's Hearing Tests & Assessment