Hearing Aids: FAQs

Will my child hear normally with hearing aids?

Does my child need one hearing aid or two?

Can my child swim or bathe with hearing aids?

How often can I expect to have to buy hearing aids for my child?

My child has hearing loss only in one ear. Does she need a hearing aid?

Does my child need one hearing aid or two?

If your child has hearing loss in both ears, most likely two hearing aids will be recommended. Hearing in both ears is what allows us to tell where sound is coming from and what helps us understand speech better in noisy environments.

Will my child hear normally with hearing aids?

Even with very mild hearing loss, hearing aids do not “correct” hearing to normal levels. The more hearing loss a person has, the less help hearing aids can provide. Be sure to ask your audiologist to explain your child’s audiogram to you so you know what your child hears and understands with his/her hearing aids.

What makes hearing aids “whistle”?

This whistling is called feedback, and it occurs with the earmold does not fit snugly in your child’s ear. As your child grows, earmolds that fit well at first will begin to allow amplified sound to leak out of the ear canal and feed back into the hearing aid’s microphone where it is then re-amplified. Earmolds must be re-made frequently in babies and young children who are growing.

Can my child swim or bathe with hearing aids?

Unfortunately, although newer hearing aids are more water-resistant than they used to be, they are not waterproof, and manufacturers do not recommend putting them in water.

How often can I expect to have to buy hearing aids for my child?

Hearing aids typically last 3-5 years. Purchase of extended warranties is advisable if you can.

Does insurance cover hearing aids?

More and more insurance plans do have a hearing aid benefit, but this varies greatly from plan to plan. Check your benefit summary or contact your plan administrator to find out about yours. In California, California Children Services (CCS) does cover hearing aids for children who qualify for this program.

What if my child is fit with hearing aids but still does not respond to sound?

If your child’s hearing loss is very severe or profound, hearing aids may not be able to provide enough amplification to be of help. Ask your audiologist to direct you to a cochlear implant center to ask about this technology.

My child has hearing loss only in one ear. Does she need a hearing aid?

It will depend on the type and degree of loss and whether speech is clear if it is made loud enough in the ear with the hearing loss. If it is, a hearing aid may be helpful. If not, an FM system or BAHA/Ponto device may be a possibility.